Pesticide use and regulation

Pesticides are used to repel or destroy harmful organisms known as pests to prevent diseases, or protects plants or plant products during production, storage and transport. Pesticides play a key role in modern agriculture, and have contributed to the increase in yields that has been achieved in recent decades for most major cereal, fruit and vegetable crops. EU legislation sets out strict rules on the use of pesticides in food production to ensure they do not pose a risk to people.