Decree on sustainable use of pesticides in the Flemish Region.

This Decree aims to protect human health and the environment against the risks associated with the use of pesticides. In particular, measures will be established in which pesticide control is promoted and in which the following hierarchy is used as a priority order: 1) the prevention of the use of pesticides; 2) the use of alternative control methods; 3o the use of chemical agents in a way that entails the least risks for people and the environment. An Action Plan for Sustainable Pesticide Use will be made. The Action Plan is revised every five years and any significant changes to the current Action Plan are immediately reported to the European Commission. The Flemish Government establishes a Steering Group for Sustainable Pesticide Use, further abbreviated as Steering group, charged with drawing up the draft Action Plan. The Government establishes further rules for determining the content, the development procedure and the publication of the Action Plan. The Decree also concerns contamination of water by pesticides.