R (Downs) v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Nov 08
[2008] EWHC 2666 (Admin)
The High Court has given judgment in the landmark judicial review of Government pesticides policy brought by award-winning pesticides campaigner Georgina Downs (who runs the UK Pesticides Campaign), in relation to the effects of crop-spraying on rural residents. Collins J held that the manner in which controls on crop spraying had been applied did not comply with the requirements of the relevant EC Directive (91/414/EC) and that, accordingly, the defendant must reconsider its position and must take steps to introduce an adequate assessment of the risks to residents.
Ms Downs was represented by Michael Fordham QC and Emma Dixon.