National Action Plan for the sustainable use of plant protection products.

This National Action Plan, based on Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides, aims to reduce risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment and to encourage the development and introduction of integrated pest management and of alternative approaches or techniques in order to reduce dependency on the use of pesticides. It covers the following topics (i) Training, in particular for professional users, distributors and advisers, since plant protection products are to be used as intended and in the proper manner as part of integrated pest management; (ii) Information and Awareness-Raising for both professional and non-professional users, and for the general public; (iii) Inspection of plant protection equipment; (iv) Measures to protect the aquatic environment and drinking water; (v) Reduction of the risks and the quantities of plant protection products used; (vi) Proper use of plant protection products and cleaning of plant protection equipment; (vii) Development of integrated pest management
To make agriculture more productive and sustainable, the NAP focusing on the correct use of plant protection products encourage the following (i) maintenance and development of training opportunities at all levels and in as many fields as possible, taking into account sector-specific and region-specific particularities; (ii) increasing of information available online for professional users; (iii) access to comprehensive information for non-professional users to reduce the impact on health and the environment arising from the use of plant protection products; (iv) availability for the general public of objective information on plant protection measures; (v) increased inspections of plant protection equipment in use, including accreditation of further inspection stations and verification of accredited ones, and training of inspection staff; (vi) dissemination of advice in the selection of crops and crop rotation, and other suitable plant protection measures, regarding particular terrains, especially with a view to protecting the aquatic environment and drinking water; (vii) further development of the principles of good plant protection practice and integrated pest management; (viii) keeping residues of spray mixture to a minimum; (ix) prevention of the import of plants and plant products to reduce the risk of new pests being brought in and disseminated and to protect against invasive alien species; and (x) promotion of research projects in cooperation between the federal and provincial authorities focusing on plant protection.
As for the Governance, risk indicators to assess the progress made in implementing the National Action Plan are identified in the following areas (i) integrated pest management; (ii) water protection; (iii) consumers and public health; (iv) information, training and awareness-raising; (v) innovation and research.