Baseline information on agricultural practices in the EU ... - Europabio

Integrated pest management (IPM) promotes the use of different techniques in combination to control
pests efficiently, with an emphasis on methods that are least injurious to the environment and most
specific to the particular pest (Endure, 2009). For example as a preventative measure, the harvest
residuals are crushed and deeply ploughed in regions where corn borer is present.
5.2.3 Disease management
Fungi are mainly tackled by seed treatment (see 0 -: no data available
Seed treatment). Foliar fungicides are not very often sprayed. Ustilago maydis, a pathogenic plant
fungus causing the maize smut disease, cannot be treated chemically, the use of resistant plant
material remaining the most effective and practical control method.
5.2.4 Plant Protection Products
The placing on the market of plant protection products is regulated by Regulation (EC) No
1107/2009 22 . Whereas the active substance is approved at EU level, the actual plant protection
products (formulations) are authorised at Member State level and the authorisation includes details of
each authorised use. Potential environmental impacts already addressed by that Regulation include
impact on non-target species and the likelihood of resistance development.
A plant protection product must -among other aspects- not have any unacceptable effects on plants or
plant products; and have no unacceptable effects on the environment, having particular regard to its
fate and distribution in the environment, its impact on non-target species and its impact on biodiversity
and the ecosystem.
In addition to management measures, the holder of an authorisation for a plant protection product is
also required to monitor and to report annually to the competent authorities of the Member States
which authorised the plant protection product if the holder has any <strong>information</strong> available relating to the
lack of expected efficacy, the development of resistance and to any unexpected effect on plants, plant
products or the environment. Any agricultural development that would include a change in the use of a
crop protection product, will need to fulfil the requirements imposed by this legislation and will be
evaluated in line with similar products by the relevant competent authorities.
The Sixth Environment Action Programme and the Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of
Pesticides, adopted by the Council and Parliament for the period 2002-2012, aims towards a healthier
environment. Amongst the objectives are the reduction of the levels of harmful active substances
used, in particular by substituting the most dangerous with safer alternatives, and the promotion of
low-input or pesticide-free cultivation. This resulted in the 2009/128/EC Framework Directive 23
establishing the framework to achieve a sustainable use of pesticides by reducing the risks and
impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment and promoting the use of integrated
pest management and of alternative approaches or techniques such as non-chemical alternatives to
pesticides. This Directive obliges the Member States to adopt National Action Plans (NAPs) by 14
December 2012 to set up measures to implement Community legislation and to achieve individual
objectives.
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a key element in the NAPs. The use of disease and pest
resistant or tolerant varieties, may add substantially to the implementation of IPM by farmers.
Examples of pesticide-use reduction programmes include:
- Denmark launched its first pesticide-use reduction programme in 1986. In 2000 the second
pesticide action plan began. It aimed to reduce pesticide use to attain a treatment frequency index
(TFI) of 1.7. This target indirectly remains in a new pesticide action plan (Agreement on green
growth, 2009) which is part of a wider action plan. For 2010-15 the indicator TFI is slightly
changed and now also includes organic cultivated land. The new target is a modified index
(pesticide impact index) of 1.4 by 2013.
22 Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009
concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives
79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC.
23 Directive 2009/128/EC of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for Community action to
achieve the sustainable use of pesticides, OJ L309, 24.11.2009, p.71-86
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