A majority of MPs wants to allow cherry growers to use insecticides to combat an exotic fruit fly which has been threatening harvests.

Drosophila suzukii is an invasive fruit fly that is increasingly common in Europe and can cause major damage in fruit production.

The fruit fly has been around for a decade in the Netherlands and farmers have been given special dispensation for the insecticides Exirel and Tracer. That dispensation was withdrawn this year based on the recommendation of health and safety watchdog NVWA.

“During it inspections the NVWA found that a third of the growers did not keep to the rules around the safe use of the insecticides,” a spokesman for the agriculture ministry told broadcaster NOS. Improper use of insecticides, such as too frequent applications and high dosages, poses a danger to surface water, the NVWA said.

MPs reacted to a call from the fruit growers’ organisation NFO, which represents around 100 cherry growers, and which said that without the insecticides they could lose their harvest and their business.

They also pointed out that German growers are allowed to use insecticides and that this puts Dutch growers at a disadvantage.

Farm minister Pieter Adema said he understands the sector’s worries and will start talks with growers about a solution.

According to Wageningen University, growers can protect their crop by using nets and by removing and destroying rotting fruit to prevent new generations of fruit fly from developing.