A PNL to Keep Out Food Contaminated with Banned Pesticides

Regional deputy Mario Cabrera calls for halting the EU‑Mercosur agreement due to risks for human health and the environment

The plenary of the Parliament of the Canary Islands unanimously approved a Proposición No de Ley (PNL) aimed at stopping the EU‑Mercosur trade deal. The goal is to prevent the entry of food contaminated with phytosanitary products that are prohibited under European regulations, because they pose threats to the environment, ecosystem integrity, and public health.

Parliamentary Debate

During the debate, Mario Cabrera González, deputy of the Canarian Nationalist Group, emphasized the need to protect Canarian agriculture and appealed for unity.

“There is a lot at stake.”

Cabrera warned that the agreement could mean “the death of the countryside, and therefore also the loss of our identity, our hallmark, our culture—values that have been built over centuries in our territory and have shaped our landscape.”

He added that “the Canary Islands are doubly at risk,” referring to their status as an Ultraperipheral Region and noting that most agricultural and livestock holdings are small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises. These farms are at a disadvantage compared with large operations and multinational corporations from third‑party countries that do not have to meet the stringent requirements imposed by Brussels on Canarian producers.

Regulatory Context

According to Cabrera, the Canary Islands already operate under some of the world’s strictest legislation, which guarantees protection for public health. In contrast, the EU’s tolerance for phytosanitary residues in imports from third countries is far lower:

“The EU allows the entry of products that contain substances prohibited in Europe because they contaminate water, destroy ecosystems, and can cause serious health damage, including cancer and neurological effects.”

He accused the EU of hypocrisy, noting that while the Union bans certain pesticides for its own farmers, it permits their export to third‑party nations, imports food treated with the same chemicals, and thereby creates unfair competition.

Export Figures

Cabrera highlighted that in 2024, 18,000 tonnes of pesticides banned in Europe were exported by European companies to countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Immediate Concerns

“Food that does not meet European standards is already entering the market, and the Mercosur agreement will only facilitate further inflow.”

He called for mirror‑clause provisions to be applied to all imports destined for the Canary Islands.

Proposed Amendments

The Canarian Nationalist Parliamentary Group presented amendments requesting that the Canary Islands government:

• Urge the Spanish government to strengthen the sanction regime for imports containing substances prohibited by EU law.
• Promote regulatory changes that would classify such conduct as a criminal offense against public health, enabling prosecution under criminal law.

Additionally, they ask the regional executive to press the State to modify current import legislation, making mirror‑clause application mandatory and eliminating the EU’s Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for products from third countries when they contain substances banned at the community level.