| Title: |
EC Sustainable Use of Pesticides Web Page
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| Resource Type: |
web links
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| Producers or distributor |
European Commission
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| Author / Producer Type: |
Agency, regulator or other governmental or inter-governmental body
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EUGRIS Keyword(s): |
Contaminated land-->Contaminants-->Contaminants overview
Contaminated land-->Contaminants-->Others
Diffuse pollution-->Contaminants-->Persistent Organic Pollutants
Soil-->Soil Overview
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| Short description: |
Mainly comprised of plant protection products (PPP) and biocidal products, pesticides are designed to influence fundamental processes in living organisms. They may have the potential to kill or control harmful organisms such as pests, but can also cause unwanted adverse effects on non-target organisms, human health and the environment.
The possible risks associated with the use of pesticides are accepted to a certain extent because of the direct benefits that it generates (in particular for farmers). They are employed on a large scale and generally considered as essential in modern cropping systems since they contribute to ensuring reliable supplies of affordable and healthy agricultural products of high quality.
Pesticides have been regulated for a long time in most EU Member States and the Community. Unwanted amounts of certain pesticides can however still be found in environmental media (in particular soil and water) and residues exceeding regulatory limits still occur in agricultural produce. The risks to human health and the environment from pesticide use are therefore being closely evaluated. Exposure to pesticides should be minimised or, where possible, eliminated. The Community regulatory framework concerning pesticides focuses particularly on the placing on the market and the end of the life cycle of such products. The legislative gap regarding the use-phase of pesticides should be filled in. Also, the research and development of less harmful, including non-chemical, alternatives should be further encouraged.
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Link to Organisation(s):
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EC European Commission
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Submitted By:
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Professor Paul Bardos WhoDoesWhat?
Last update: 23/06/2007
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