Forthcoming EU Legislation of Pesticides

The Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive is part of an overhaul of pesticide use in the EU. It requires all Member States to establish National Action Plans (NAPs) and create a system of awareness-raising and training of all professional users, that includes integrated pest management (IPM) and organic principles (more on EU training requirements). It encourages everybody in food chain to consider ways to reduce pesticide usage.

This was passed in Brussels Oct 23 07. EU Press Release (Another Directive updates the 91/414 about pesticide approvals)

Complete text of Amendments to Sustainable Use of Pesticides

The Belohorská Report was adopted. This spells out that the aims of the pesticides strategy should definitely be to reduce the use of pesticides. A key point of the report is a call for "quantitative use reduction targets" to prompt governments to lower the amount of pesticides used.

The Report suggested: "that the NAPs should meet a specific EU reduction target of 25% within 5 years and 50% within 10 years, and contain national targets, including special ones for particularly active or toxic substances." . The Parliament rejected the precise EU-wide figures for pesticide reduction proposed by the Environment Committee, opting instead for reduction targets in some cases only, e.g. for substances of "very high concern".

Since then further EU Council meetings have decided:

"National action plans: the proposals require member states to adopt national action plans to set up 'targets, measures, and timetables to reduce the risk from and dependence on pesticides'. They draw together and co-ordinate activity affecting, or affected by, the use of pesticides."

"On training: there was a general view that a strengthening of the proposal was desirable (for example to incorporate the concept of continuous professional development and to identify different training needs). It was, however, noted that if the Directive was overly prescriptive (e.g. on education), this could undermine the environmental legal basis of the proposal."

"Discussions on IPM noted: the positive contribution widespread adoption of such practices could make to supporting the goal of sustainable use; but the difficulties in enforcing any regulations making its use compulsory. Work to develop some general criteria for IPM will be discussed at future meetings."

The Directive will be discussed in EU Parliament by both the Environment and Agriculture Committees. The Environment Committee is leading.

Latest, check PSD's EU Directive 'Sustainable Use of Pesticides'