National Action Plan on the Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products 2011.

This National Action Plan (NAP) on the Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products is a national cross-sectoral policy document. As the first National Action Plan on the Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products, the NAP was published as a working group memorandum of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in March 2011, which was intended to remain in force until 2021. The core objective of the National Action Plan is to reduce the risks to human health and to the environment arising from the use of plant protection products. Further objectives are to promote the development and implementation of integrated pest management, alternative cultivation techniques and practices, and indicators. The goal is to reduce the dependence on the use of chemical plant protection products while maintaining a high level of plant health.
The NAP seeks to make agriculture and forestry more productive and sustainable. One of the specific objectives set up in the NAP is: Reduced environmental risks. In order to develop and steer the proper and sustainable use of plant protection products to ensure minimal risk to health and the environment, the NAP requests: 1. where reasonably possible, to choose from among the existing alternatives those plant protection products or methods that cause the least danger to the environmental; 2. Continuous monitoring of plant protection product concentrations must be increased to sufficient levels and national environmental quality standards must be set for all plant protection products on the market; 3. In connection with areas requiring water protection and special protection, attention must also be paid to important groundwater areas with respect to water supply (classes I and II) and to areas in the vicinity of wells or springs used for the abstraction of drinking water; 4. To avoid the use of plant protection products in areas requiring special protection. Such areas include, for example, areas coming under the scope of the Habitats and Birds Directives; 5. Adequate crop rotation to prevent the accumulation of pests in fields, the formation of resistance caused by repeated use of single plant protection products and, in particular, the adverse effects caused by continuous use of persistent and leaching plant protection products.
The NAP seeks to contribute to more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. The NAP will be focused more closely on the following areas: 1. Reduced health risks. The objective is to keep the use of plant protection products at a level that does not cause maximum residue levels to be exceeded in plant products that are used for food or feed or in household water or groundwater. 2. Raised awareness regarding the safe use of plant protection products. The objective is to distribute correct and relevant information to users and consumers on plant protection, plant protection products and their safe use and health and environmental risks through training, advice and increased communication. 3. Promotion of integrated pest management. The objective is to promote integrated pest management and alternative methods and practices that can be used to further reduce risks to human health and the environment and dependence on the use of plant protection products. 4. Introduction of comparative assessment. The objective is to monitor the applications and methods and related risks of plant protection products containing active substances of particular concern.