[HIGHLIGHTS] Pesticides: local residents’ associations denounce the suspension of the Ecophyto plan

Pesticide use in France to be reduced by 50% by 2015. Pesticide industry says it will not stop use of pesticides in the long term.

The European Commission says the reduction will not happen until 2015. The EU says it is working on a plan to reduce the amount of pesticides used in the country by 20% by 2017. The World Health Organisation says it wants to see a reduction in the use of chemicals in the food supply by 30% by 2016. The WHO says the current level of pesticide use in the U.S. and Europe is too high.