The EU’s regulatory framework ensures that pesticides and biopesticides approved for use are sufficiently effective, as well as have no unacceptable effects on the environment.
The risk assessment evaluates when a product is used correctly, and whether it is likely to have any direct or indirect harmful effects on human or animal health, as well as on the environment.
From 2021, EU Regulation 2019/1381 on the transparency and sustainability of the EU risk assessment in the food chain (Transparency Regulation) ensures that the content of the technical dossiers for pesticides, biopesticides and genetically modified organisms is made publicly available. These dossiers are the basis for the risk assessment and evaluation process.
As a result, our industry is working tirelessly to find ways to minimise and even reverse the impact, since productive agriculture needs a healthy environment which depends on good agricultural management practices.
In addition to the respective companies’ research and proactive contributions, CropLife Europe is conducting specific research aimed at providing high-quality data to inform risk assessment updates.
For example, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) listed a series of open points regarding the pollinator risk assessment. CropLife Europe coordinated the collation of existing datasets and produced a dedicated analysis on possible exposure routes for pollinators (guttation, flowering weeds, succeeding crops), or the sensitivity of bumble bees compared to honeybees.
Protecting biodiversity is a key criterion embedded into the EU legislation for authorising pesticides and biopesticides. The crop protection sector is committed to enhancing biodiversity and natural habitats within farming landscapes by using our expertise in plant protection and agricultural practices.
Farmers using crop protection products correctly plays an important role in creating a balance between the societal need to produce sufficient, economically-sustainable food and a healthy natural environment.
IPM is a holistic and effective way of managing pests, weeds, and diseases through a combination of cultural, physical, biological and chemical methods. IPM also focuses on preventing pests and weeds by using ecological principles, such as crop rotation and diversification. When pesticide interventions are needed, their safe, responsible and targeted use is critical.
Over time and with sufficient investment, new plant science innovations and crop protection technologies are bringing new nature-friendly solutions to make it easier to maintain and improve the balance between food production and healthy biodiversity.
Since 2000, the EU’s Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) has been the main law protecting water in Europe. Based on its daughter directives for surface water (2013/39/EU), groundwater (2006/118/EC), and drinking water (EU 2020/2184), its general objective is to achieve “good” chemical, quantitative, and ecological status for all surface and groundwater bodies in the Union.
Our sector’s major initiative to protect water from contamination by PPPs is the development and promotion of the TOPPS – project (Train Operators to Promote best management Practices & Sustainability) materials. These best practices for farm and field management aim to reduce the risk of plant protection products entering water bodies in Europe via different pollution pathways (see links to best management practice booklets).
In particular in the context of the newly established risk assessment and management process for drinking water catchments in the European Union (Art. 8, EU 2020/2184), the tried and tested TOPPS approach for managing pollution in agricultural catchments holistically has become increasingly relevant by providing practical tools which will help with implementation of the required catchment level management measures.
Our sector’s major initiative to protect water from contamination by PPPs is the TOPPS – projects (Train Operators to Promote best management Practices & Sustainability). The project develops best practices for farm management to reduce the risk of plant protection products entering water in Europe.
TOPPS – projects aimed to increase awareness of the need to protect water from plant protection products (PPPs) contamination, while providing information on how this can be achieved in practice. The key activity was to inform operators and stakeholders about the correct use of PPPs considering local conditions, and to provide practical advice how to improve practices, equipment, and infrastructure.
TOPPS – projects were multi-stakeholder projects, which worked with local partner organisations and whose teams provided complementary skills ranging from science to farm advice. This approach helped to ensure a broad consensus on recommended measures and delivered a range of practical risk reduction methodologies which can be used in a toolbox approach.
Catchment analysis and runoff/erosion Best Management Practices
Drainage and leaching Best Management Practices
Spray drift Best management Practices
Point source Best Management Practices
5. BMPs_biopurification_systems_
Best Management Practices for remnant management & biopurification systems
These TOPPS materials are available in further EU languages. Please check on the website of your national crop protection association, if local language versions of these documents can be downloaded.
