DEF-PB13035-PestPlan 30/4/2008 13:45 Page A communisis The leading print partner C M Y K www.defra.gov.uk JOB LOCATION: PRINERGY 1 DISCLAIMER APPROVER The accuracy and the content of this file is the responsibility of the Approver. Please authorise approval only if you wish to proceed to print. Communisis PMS cannot accept liability for errors once the file has been printed. PRINTER This colour bar is UK Pesticides Strategy: produced manually all end users must check final separations to verify A Strategy for the Sustainable Use colours before printing. of Plant Protection Products DEF-PB13035-PestPlan 30/4/2008 13:45 Page B Co 1. Int 2. Bac 3. Sco 4. Ob 5. Str 6. Wo 7. The 8. Int 9. De 10. Th 11. Sc 12. In 13. Re 14. St Anne Anne Anne Anne Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Nobel House Anne 17 Smith Square London SW1P 3JR Telephone 020 7238 6000 Website: www.defra.gov.uk © Crown copyright 2006 The text in this document (excluding the Royal Arms and departmental logos) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium provided that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as Crown copyright and the title of the document specified. Any enquiries relating to the copyright in this document should be addressed to The Information Policy Team, Office of Public Sector Information, St Clements House, 2–16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQ. Fax: 01603 723000 or e-mail: [email protected] Product code PB 13035 DEF-PB13035-PestPlan 30/4/2008 13:45 Page 1 Contents 1. Introduction 3 2. Background 4 3. Scope of the Strategy 5 4. Objectives 6 5. Strategic Outcomes 7 6. Working Together 8 7. The Existing Framework 9 8. Integration with Related Policies and Initiatives 10 9. Delivery 12 10. The Action Plans 13 11. Science and Knowledge Transfer 16 12. Indicators 17 13. Review of this Strategy 18 14. Strategy Action Plans and Strategy ‘Governance’ 19 Annexes 28 Annex 1: UK Pesticides Industry and Pesticide Usage 29 Annex 2: Existing Legislative Framework for Plant Protection Products 32 Annex 3: Pesticide Indicators Framework 34 Annex 4: Strategy Governance 35 uced d in f the DEF-PB13035-PestPlan 30/4/2008 13:45 Page 2 1. This d that s pestic likely relate 1Pesticide 2 DEF-PB13035-PestPlan 30/4/2008 13:45 Page 3 1. Introduction This document replaces the Pesticides and the Environment Strategy1 published in 2006. It updates that strategy and extends it to cover issues relating to the potential human health risks from pesticides. New EU legislation on the sustainable use of pesticides currently under negotiation is likely to require member states to produce ‘national action plans’ on pesticides. This strategy and related detailed action implementation plans anticipate that development. 1Pesticides and the Environment: A Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products and Strategy Action Plans: March 2006 3 DEF-PB13035-PestPlan 30/4/2008 13:45 Page 4 2. Background 3. Pesticide is a general term that includes a variety of chemical and biological products used to kill This st or control living organisms such as rodents, insects, fungi and plant weeds. This strategy concerns and g ‘plant protection products’ which are those pesticides used to protect plants and plant products medic from pests, diseases and weeds and to regulate growth of plants. Careful use of pesticides can deliver substantial benefits for society: increasing the availability of good quality, reasonably priced foodstuffs (in particular fruit and vegetables); and clean urban environments. However, pesticides can, by their nature, be harmful to living organisms so there are risks associated with their use. It is important that these risks are accurately assessed and appropriate measures taken to minimise them. The st use of peopl the en Subjec Ireland The UK has a substantial crop protection industry. Sales of plant protection products in 2006 were paralle £388 million, representing 23,066 tonnes of active substances. Agricultural and horticultural uses The te accounted for 85% of the value of sales and 80% of the amount used, whilst garden, household, forestry and amenity uses accounted for the balance. Further information on the make-up of the pesticides market in the UK is provided in Annex 1. 4 DEF-PB13035-PestPlan 30/4/2008 13:45 Page 5 3. Scope of the strategy kill This strategy concerns pesticides used in agriculture, amenity landscape management and in homes erns and gardens. It does not cover biocides (such as wood preservatives or disinfectants) or veterinary cts medicines (such as sheep dip chemicals) which are subject to separate regulatory requirements. ban re The strategy deals with the legislative and other controls on the marketing of pesticides, on the use of pesticides and on pesticide residues in foods. It covers measures to protect the health of people (operators who apply pesticides, other workers, residents, bystanders and consumers) and the environment. Subject to appropriate regional variations this strategy covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. However, these devolved administrations currently have, or may develop in the future, were parallel but different agricultural or environmental schemes to reflect priorities within their territories. uses The terminology for current schemes used in this strategy generally refers to the English situation. hold, the 5 DEF-PB13035-PestPlan 30/4/2008 13:45 Page 6 4. Objectives 5. This strategy will contribute particularly to three of Defra’s strategic objectives in the following ways: This s poten A healthy, resilient, productive and diverse natural environment and e • By safeguarding human health; Specif • By reducing pesticide contamination of surface and groundwater; • P • By reducing the impact of pesticides on biodiversity; • P • By promoting good practice in the use and disposal of pesticides. • P A thriving farming and food sector, with farming making a net positive • R environmental contribution • R • By maintaining the quality and quantity of food produced; • E • By maintaining the production of locally grown crops; • M • By promoting the development and use of alternative approaches to pest, disease and weed • M control that reduce dependence on chemical pesticides. (a Sustainable Patterns of Consumption and Production • E o • By minimising the amounts of waste pesticide packaging produced; • By encouraging availability of crop protection measures to support local food production. 6 DEF-PB13035-PestPlan 30/4/2008 13:45 Page 7 5. Strategic outcomes ways: This strategy aims to achieve high standards of human and environmental protection against potential risks posed by pesticides whilst maintaining the economic viability of crop production and effective control of pests, weeds and diseases. Specifically the strategy aims to: • Protect consumers by minimising risks from pesticides residues in food; • Protect users and workers by minimising exposure to pesticides; • Protect residents and bystanders by minimising exposure from spray operations; • Reduce water pollution caused by pesticides; • Reduce the impact of pesticides on biodiversity; • Establish ‘best practice’ in the use of pesticides in the amenity sector; • Minimise the risk to users and the environment from amateur pesticide products; eed • Maintain the availability of sufficient methods of crop protection particularly for minor crops (and also minor uses on major crops). • Encourage the introduction of cost-effective alternative approaches and greater use of integrated crop and pest management. 7 DEF-PB13035-PestPlan 30/4/2008 13:45 Page 8 6. Working together 7. The Government has developed this Strategy in consultation with a range of stakeholders There who share responsibility for its delivery, in accordance with the principles of better regulation. of 20 Government cannot achieve the outcomes sought in this document without the co-operation are be of those who manufacture, store, sell and use pesticides, and those who monitor and manage on pe the effects of pesticide use. There This means that all users of pesticides should: • C • Comply with all relevant regulations and record keeping requirements for pesticides; D • Comply with the statutory Codes of Practice for using pesticides; • A • Adopt an integrated approach to crop protection drawing on all available techniques to tackle w pests, diseases and weeds; • L • Support the action plans arising from this strategy relevant to their sector. th (3 And this means Government will: This b • Consult with all stakeholders on new regulatory requirements; and th • Work with users of pesticides and other stakeholders to develop and implement the next f action plans; Pestic and fo • Seek to promote the uptake of integrated approaches to pest control particularly through inform the work of the Pesticide Forum and through relevant research and development; • Use voluntary approaches to deliver results wherever appropriate; The le for m • Take enforcement action, through the courts where necessary. Execu (includ Agenc Detail http:// The G pestic the la with i The A includ shown beyon 8 DEF-PB13035-PestPlan 30/4/2008 13:45 Page 9 7. The existing framework There is a very substantial body of legislation on pesticides which has been built up over a period of 20 years. The regime is in a transitional period where some major pieces of national legislation are being replaced by new, harmonising European Community legislation. The aim of all legislation e on pesticides is to ensure high standards of protection for people and for the environment. There are three main pieces of existing or planned EC legislation on pesticides: • Controls on the marketing of plant protection products under the EC Authorisations Directive (91/414/EEC); • A proposed Framework Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides. A formal proposal ackle was adopted by the European Commission in July 2006 and is currently under negotiation; • Legislation on pesticide residues in food.