Member  states outline plans to cut pesticide use

National action plans submitted under directive on the sustainable use of  pesticides show a wide variety of approaches to implementing the rules.

But seven countries have not yet finalised their plans, even though the  deadline for submission to the European Commission was last December. The  commission is “following the issue” and will report on the matter by July, a  spokesman said.

The plans outline ways in which they will encourage Integrated Pest  Management (IPM) practices to reduce the use of pesticides.

Bulgaria has published IPM guides for 47 crops including wheat, maize and  oilseed rape. Universities are offering training to farmers and the government  will establish a register of farmers taking measures in this area.

In the UK, existing standards for food production and forestry management  require practices consistent with the IPM principles. Government, pesticide  producers and farmers will develop an IPM self-assessment tool. The country also  supports farmers who want to convert to organic methods.

Denmark aims to reduce its pesticide  load by 40% by the end of 2015 relative to 2011. IPM will become part of the  training for pesticide-use certificates. Monitoring and warning services on  pests, to encourage optimised use of pesticides, will be in place by 2015.  Subsidies to use alternative pesticides are also offered.

Spain aims to have IPM guidelines in place for 80% of agricultural land by  the end of 2017. Distribution of these guidelines will begin on 1 January 2014  to a newly established database of professionals that use pesticides.

The Cypriot agriculture ministry is raising awareness of IPM this year  through information seminars and newspaper articles. Before the end of this  month, the ministry will draw up a list of private advisors and create a list of  products and practices that will work in the country’s climate.

As well as encouraging IPM, the national plans should also set “quantitative  objectives, targets, measures and timetables to reduce risks and impacts of  pesticide use on human health and the environment”, under article 4 of the  directive.

NGO PAN Europe has written to health commissioner Tonio Borg to complain that  of the countries whose plans are available in English, only three have  quantifiable goals.

The Czech Republic aims to reduce pesticide residues in fruits and vegetable  by 10% by 2020 relative to 2009-10. Lithuania aims for a 2% cut in residues by  2017 relative to 2010. The third country with a target is Denmark with its 40%  goal.

“None of the other [plans] in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Finland, Slovenia, Slovakia,  Hungary Malta, Spain, and the United Kingdom fix any quantifiable objective at  all, even though the Directive is really clear on this point,” the NGO said.

The commission is due to report on the member states’ plans by the end of  next year.

Follow Up:

National action plans  http://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/pesticides/sustainable_use_pesticides/national_action_plans_en.htm

PAN Europe letter  http://www.pan-europe.info/News/PR/130620_letter_Borg.pd

and statement  http://www.pan-europe.info/News/PR/130620.html