Review of Irish National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides.

This National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides (PPP) is a nationwide sectoral document that reviews and updates the first Irish plan of 2013, as provided for by Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament that requires this review at least every 5 years. The NAP consists of 5 broad areas, as follows (1) Training, Education, Information Exchange and Data Gathering; (2) Controls on Application Equipment; (3) Controls on Storage, Supply and Disposal of PPPs; (4) Controls on use of PPPs in Specified Areas; and (5) Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Main objectives of this reviewed NAP are (i) achieve a balance between ensuring human and environmental safety; (ii) maintain continued viability of the farming and amenity sectors; and (iii) protect drinking water from pesticides.The approach used is a combination of statutory measures and voluntary initiatives. Competent Authority for the implementation of the NAP is the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
To make agriculture more productive and sustainable, the NAP proposes a serie of interventions linked to the use of pesticides to reduce their risks and impacts on human health and the environment (with particular emphasis on the protection of water), such as (i) appropriate training of all individuals involved at every level in the PPP industry; (ii) up to date crop protection methods become an integral part of crop protection strategies practised by all farmers; (iii) people involved in the sale and/or distribution of PPPs (wholesalers, retailers, vendors, distributors and suppliers) are appropriately trained; (iv) certified individuals sufficiently skilled to ensure that the application of PPPs minimises the risks and impacts; (v) information to customers are made available by distributors; (vi) annual statistics on the sales and usage of PPPs published on the DAFM website; (vii) all systems to ensure the collection of pesticide sales and pesticide usage data (i.e. ensure that all MRL identified breaches during the monitoring for pesticide residues are scrutinised are put in place; (viii) all Pesticide Application Equipment (PAE) is tested by appropriately trained inspectors; (ix) adequate facilities for the appropriate storage, including packaging and labeling, are put in place; and (x) widespread adoption of IPM practices amongst end users through education and awareness.