Georgina Downs lost battle of pesticide-use policy

Environmental campaigner Georgina Downs won a High Court victory against the Government over the use of pesticides in crop spraying in November 2008.

She argued that public health was not being protected and the Government was acting unlawfully in its policy and approach.

However, High Court Judge Mr Justice Collins granted the Government permission to appeal the judgement.

This morning (7 July), in the Court of Appeal judgement, Lord Justice Sullivan overturned the appeal and has substituted Georgina Downs' arguments with those of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.

Despite Georgina Downs’ defeat, farmers could also face new spraying requirements.
Hilary Benn is considering new measures to protect the public from crop spraying despite Defra’s Court of Appeal victory over pesticides campaigner Georgina Downs.

The Defra Secretary has announced he will consult this autumn on giving people access to farmers’ records of spraying activity near their properties and on how farmers should give prior notification of spraying to residents.

The consultation will also cover the monitoring of how pesticides are being used, new training requirements for operators and what else should be included in Defra’s new National Action Plan for crop spraying.