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Pesticide scandal in Austria: TFA threatens our health!
The Greens are calling for better data on the use of pesticides in Austria, criticizing the lack of transparency and health risks caused by TFA.
Pesticide scandal in Austria: TFA threatens our health!
In Austria there are alarming developments in the use of pesticides that raise serious health and safety concerns. Olga Voglauer, the Green Party's agriculture spokeswoman, denounces the fact that, despite their high relevance to the environment and health, there is hardly any information available about the use of pesticides. In a parliamentary question, she demanded comprehensive data on sales figures and controls. This lack of transparency is particularly worrying because reporting of pesticide use is not mandatory and only low-quality statistics are based on volunteers from fewer than 1,000 companies. As the Small newspaper reported, the urgently needed nationwide database on pesticide applications is not yet in sight.
Pesticides and health risks
Citizens and environmentalists are concerned about the high use of chemical pesticides. A current legal opinion from the environmental protection organization Global2000 shows that trifluoroacetate (TFA) - a breakdown product of per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS) - is released by around twelve percent of the pesticides approved in Austria. Voglauer calls for the immediate suspension of the approval of such dangerous substances. As early as 2021, the pesticide manufacturer Bayer informed the EFSA about deformities in animals, and Germany has planned steps to classify TFA as toxic to reproduction in spring 2024 OTS reported.
Voglauer also criticizes the lack of specific reduction targets for the use of pesticides in Austria and the slow implementation of EU requirements. It remains to be seen whether and when the responsible ministries will take the necessary measures to improve the situation, as pressure from the Greens and environmental protection organizations is constantly growing. Their demands also include the development of a comprehensive pesticide use database to document progress and ensure responsible use of chemicals. People's health and protecting water are essential - this must be the top priority.