Pesticides strategy 2013-2015.

This Pesticides Strategy 2013-2015 is a cross-sectoral policy document at the national level. The overall goal of the Danish Government is to reduce the pesticide load by 40 % by the end of 2015 compared with 2011.
The Strategy seeks to ensure a reasonable balance between the interests of agriculture and protection of the environment. As a supplement to the overall objective, a number of benchmarks have been determined. The benchmarks indicate what the Danish Government wishes to accomplish within the various areas of special interest. The benchmarks include: 1.No exceedance of the threshold values for groundwater for approved pesticides. 2. The content of pesticide residues in Danish food must be as low as possible. 3. Human health loads from using substances of very high concern (carcinogenic substances and endocrine disruptors) must be reduced by 40 % by the end of 2015 compared with the loads in 2011. 4. Anyone who uses pesticides for professional purposes must comply with the principles on integrated pest management (the IPM principles) by 2014. 5. Municipalities, regions and governmental institutions must reduce their use of pesticides in accordance with the voluntary agreement for this area. 6. The golf courses must reduce their use of pesticides and pesticide loads. 7. Owners of private gardens must, to a greater extent, choose pesticides causing low loads. There is a need for initiatives in the following cross-sectoral areas, in particular: Strict approval of pesticides; Strengthened initiatives to protect groundwater; Strengthened control of pesticides; etc.
The Strategy contributes to enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. Proposed initiatives in the following cross-sectoral areas include: 1. Increased food safety. More initiatives for determining the lowest possible maximum residue levels for the individual pesticides in food and feed. 2. Investment in research and technology; etc.