Zeneca attacks pesticide tax
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Zeneca, the UK drug giant, yesterday launched a fierce attack on the Government's plans to introduce an environmental tax on pesticides.
Michael Meacher, Labour's environment minister, said earlier on BBC Radio that a "pesticide tax is one of the things we are looking at," and could be included in its Budget on 2 July.
Stuart Shields, a spokesman from Zeneca's agrochemicals division, which represents around a third of the group's pounds 5.4bn total sales last year, echoed the view of the British Agrochemicals Association which said yesterday that such a tax would be "indiscriminate and unnecessary".
Mr Shields said that any tax ignored improved practices in crop management which had reduced the levels of agrochemicals used: "We are opposed to the imposition of a tax. If it is to reduce the amount of crop chemicals used, Mr Meacher should know that volumes are a fifth lower than they were 10 years ago."
Mr Shields said a UK tax would probably relate to Zeneca's full range of agrochemicals, which includes pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. However he said the impact on business would depend on whether it was imposed on manufacturers or crop growers.
Zeneca makes well over half of its agrochemicals in the UK, but only 3 per cent of sales are to UK growers.
Mr Shields said crop growers would be likely to accept higher prices because of the benefits of using chemicals on crops.
The news came on the same day that Zeneca announced it had successfully concluded its pounds 45m offer for Mogen, the Dutch crop biotechnology company.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments