Why are pesticides used and how is their use regulated?

Pesticides are chemicals used to protect crops from insects (insecticides), weeds (herbicides), moulds (fungicides) and rodents (rodenticides).

Pest problems and their management vary widely throughout Europe and depend on climate, type of soil and many other conditions. The use of pesticides enables the production of a sufficient quantity of agricultural produce and raw materials of appropriate quality at an acceptable cost.

Most chemicals used as pesticides may have toxic effects at high doses and the major argument against their use is the health risk factor and the danger of environmental pollution. However the approval and use of pesticides is controlled by EU Council Directive 91/414/EEC and other regulations. They regulate which plant protection products may be used and the maximum residues that are allowed in and on foodstuffs. Pesticides undergo rigid testing procedures before they are accepted for registration by European or national authorities.

The tests on pesticides must prove that the product, at the intended level of use:

• Have real value and will work as intended
• Will have no negative side effects in humans, either during use on the farm or from residues that may remain in food
• Will have no negative environmental effects

By way of additional measures to protect consumers from harmful effects, maximum residue levels for particular pesticides in specified foods are prescribed by three European Directives. These regulations are applied within the Member States of the EU and there are regular reviews of the situation to improve coordination and quality of monitoring pesticide residues in food.

As with the use of any potentially injurious chemical substance, the use of pesticides must take into consideration the balance of benefits versus the possible risk to human health or to the degradation of the quality of the environment.