A reduction of dangerous pesticides and their stricter regulation are the requirements of Greenpeace Slovakia, addressed to the Slovak Agriculture Ministry."We want Slovakia to set particular and measurable goals for itself in order to reduce the use of pesticides in future," said Katarína Nikodémová of Greenpeace Slovakia. However, according to Agriculture Minister Gabriela Matečná, it is not possible to stop using all chemical substances with the current system and the way it works."Of course, we can exclude the pesticides with negative impacts," said Matečná, who wants to take common steps with other EU member states. However, three years ago, when the EU discussed the prohibition of pesticides, Slovakia was among eight countries, which voted against it.
Meanwhile, Greenpeace Slovakia has launched a petition for reducing the use of dangerous pesticides. So far 28,000 signatures have been collected. Activists warn that chemical substances harm humans and the environment, including bees for example."When a chemical is applied to a plant first and a bee arrives later, the bee brings contaminated nectar and pollen to a hive and it feeds its brood with it. Thus, the bees become weaker and subsequently their numbers decline," explained Ľudovít Gál of the Slovak Association of Beekeepers. At the moment only three pesticides, the so-called neonicotinoids are prohibited in the EU. However, the prohibition is in force only until the end of this year with the Union most likely needing to vote whether to extend the ban into next year.
