Law No. 4036 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market, the sustainable use of pesticides and other provisions.

The law aims at adopting complementary measures for the implementation of the following provisions: a) Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC; b) Regulation (EC) No. 396/2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin and amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC. It also aims at the transposition into the national legislation and application of the provisions of Directive 2009/128/EC establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides and to provide for other matters related thereto. The provisions of this law shall apply to pesticides that are plant protection products as defined in point 10(a) of article 17 to the law and shall apply without prejudice to any other relevant Community legislation. If deemed necessary the precautionary principle can be applied in restricting or prohibiting the use of pesticides in specific circumstances or areas. With article 18, National Action Plans are adopted in order to set up quantitative objectives, targets, measures and timetables 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 to reduce dependency on the use of pesticides. These targets may cover different areas of concern, for example worker protection, protection of the environment, residues, use of specific techniques or use in specific crops. The National Action Plans includes also appropriate measures to protect the aquatic environment and drinking water supplies from the impact of pesticides. These measures shall support and be compatible with relevant provisions of Law No. 3199/2003.