Semantic debate Meanwhile, the question of whether flowers are truly safe is one that will probably never disappear entirely. Around Valentine’s Day, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) published a report stating that African-grown roses contained several active substances that are no longer authorised for use within the European Union. Among the substances detected were methamidophos and carbendazim, which were banned by the EU in 2008 and 2014, respectively.

What is Union Fleurs’ position on this issue?

“It sounds like a semantic debate. The chemicals you are referring to are still permitted for use in Africa, while the NVWA correctly states that they are no longer authorised as plant protection products within the European Union.

“The important question is why they are no longer allowed in the EU. The answer is surprisingly simple: manufacturers of plant protection products did not seek renewal of the authorisation for these substances within the EU. In Africa, growers use them to combat specific insects and aphids that we simply do not have in Europe. If these substances are authorised under Kenyan law and serve a purpose in combating pest pressure under tropical conditions, why should growers there not be allowed to use them?

“A separate discussion is whether Europe wants to import products treated with such chemicals. What is already happening in countries such as Colombia is that growers producing for the European market increasingly follow the European list of authorised substances to avoid controversy and market access issues.”

Misconceptions about modern horticulture To further the sustainability debate, we raise the case of a former florist from France who, in 2023, filed a wrongful death lawsuit after her 11-year-old daughter died from what her lawyers claimed was exposure to pesticides on the flowers she handled at work.

Mesken stresses that the florist never won the case in the French courts. In December 2024, the Court of Appeal in Rennes ruled that she could not recover the more than €1million claimed in damages. At the same time, the government-owned Fonds d’Indemnisation des Victimes de Pesticides (FIVP)—the French Pesticides Victims Compensation Fund—awarded her €50,000 in compensation.

The relationship between pesticides and health problems remains highly complex. Studies do suggest a possible link between pesticide exposure and an increased risk of illnesses such as leukaemia. However, many of these studies date from a time when awareness of the risks associated with pesticide use was not as advanced as it is today. As technology progresses and alternatives to conventional crop protection products continue to be developed and adopted in agriculture, further scientific research will be needed. Scientists will continue to ask questions, seek stronger evidence, and challenge assumptions on both sides of the debate.

Scientific evidence on long-term occupational exposure remains under active investigation and regulatory decisions often reflect both toxicological evidence and precautionary policy.

Mesken comments: “I have never personally visited flower farms in Africa or South America. But from everything I hear, growers supplying flowers to EU retailers must comply with extensive requirements relating to environmental impact, worker welfare, pesticide use, and legal compliance.

“At the same time, some labour groups in the Netherlands claim that African growers are using dangerous chemicals and that our industry mistreats workers. In my opinion, that is simply nonsense.”

What bothers Mesken most about these discussions is the large number of misconceptions surrounding modern horticulture. With fewer people growing ornamental crops than ever before, a significant gap has emerged between what people believe happens on a flower farm and what actually takes place.

MRLs or not? Could the introduction of Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) in floriculture help resolve the pesticide debate that has continued for years?

“With MRLs, I honestly would not know where to begin. The enormous diversity of products and the wide range of chemicals used in floriculture would require perhaps 10 to 30 years of research. It would also require a comprehensive risk assessment by the European authorities to develop a scientifically sound reference framework for non-edible products such as flowers and plants.

“As such, establishing MRLs for floricultural products would not resolve everything, but it could provide a reference framework and a better understanding of acceptable and safe levels of chemical use in our products without unnecessarily endangering human health or the environment. However, the process of getting there would be lengthy. So what should we do in the meantime? Simply sit and wait?

“Instead, I would focus on strengthening carbon footprinting and certification schemes while continuing to encourage people who work with flowers every day to wear gloves and avoid eating or drinking while handling flowers as essential occupational health and safety measures.”

Sense and nonsense of certifications The roses sampled by the NVWA were grown in Africa. If a significant number of Kenyan and Ethiopian rose farms are MPS-certified. What does that say about the sense—and the nonsense—of certification?

“It tells me, as president of Union Fleurs and a board member of MPS, that all certification schemes need to take a critical look at their auditing systems. When I worked with the Dutch certification scheme Groenkeur, members underwent a scheduled audit every year, followed by an unannounced audit later in the same year.”

Mesken believes that surprise audits create additional pressure on companies to maintain standards every day, not only during scheduled inspections. However, this also requires discussion, as additional audits inevitably increase costs. If MPS introduces stricter auditing procedures, other certification schemes should follow suit to maintain a level playing field.

Differences between production and trade can arise, for example, in the area of sustainability. Mesken notes, “Larger floral wholesalers within VGB and Royal FloraHolland (RFH) encourage both small and large growers to certify their flowers and plants. We urged the auction to make certification mandatory. However, it is clear that the cooperative has different sustainability ambitions from those of the wholesale trade. It shows that trade and production are not always fully aligned.”