Italy's national action Plan for the sustainable use of plant protection products 2012.
Country
Type of law
Policy
Abstract
The Plan for the sustainable use of plant protection products (2012) of the Republic of Italy is a comprehensive in scope and pursues long-term objectives. Its purpose is to drive, supervise and monitor a process of change in pesticide use practices towards greater environmental and health compatibility and sustainability, in particular as concerns agricultural practices for the prevention and/or suppression of harmful organisms, covered by Annex III to Legislative Decree No 150/2012.
The Plan sets out solutions to reduce the impact of pesticides also in non-agricultural areas used by the general public, such as urban areas, roads, railway lines, public parks and gardens, school grounds, sports and recreation grounds and all their ancillary areas. In line with the contents of Directive 2009/128/EC and Legislative Decree No 150/2012, the Plan pursues the following general objectives, in order to reduce the risks associated with the use of pesticides: reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health, the environment and biodiversity; encourage the uptake of integrated pest management, organic farming and other alternative approaches; protect the users of pesticides and the general public concerned; protect consumers; protect the aquatic environment and drinking water; conserve biodiversity and protect ecosystems.
To achieve these objectives, the Plan shall pursue the following priorities: ensure the extensive and systematic delivery of training on the risks linked to the use of pesticides; provide accurate information to the general public about the potential risks of pesticide use; establish a comprehensive system for the regular check, adjustment and maintenance of spraying machinery; prohibit the aerial application of pesticides, granting derogations in specific cases; establish specific protection actions in areas of high environmental value, and actions to protect the aquatic environment; ensure that the handling, storage and disposal of pesticides and their containers are performed correctly; make provision for the use of low-pesticide pest-control in agriculture, in order to preserve a high degree of biodiversity and protect crops from pests, by promoting the appropriate agricultural techniques; provide for an increase in the size of areas farmed with organic methods, within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 834/07 and of areas under voluntary integrated pest management (Law No 4 of 3 February 2011); identify appropriate indicators to measure the effectiveness of the actions put in place under the Plan, and disseminate the results of monitoring.
The actions set out in the Plan are consistent with the provisions of Directive 2000/60/EC and with all other applicable EU legislation on the use of pesticides, and they contribute to achieving its objectives. Special emphasis is laid on monitoring to check progress made and highlight problem areas; this will, inter alia, enable the authorities concerned to revise the measures in place, each within its remit. The main entities involved in implementation of the Plan are: the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, the Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, University and Research, the Regions and the Autonomous Provinces, municipalities, public research entities, the entities managing Natura 2000 sites and protected areas, farmers and any other pesticide users, the producers and distributors of pesticides and all the parties proposing alternative methods and techniques, pesticide advisors, the railway and road managing agencies, and all those public and private entities, including associations, which manage green areas used by the general public.
Also full set of technical sheets and indications and requirements is part of this Plan. Annex I: Specific training objectives for the different types of course (initial and continuing training); Annex II: Components of the pesticide application equipment subject to technical inspection, method of performing the inspection and equipment operation requirements; Annex III: Minimum requirements for the equipment used to perform technical inspections; Annex IV: Contents of the training course for technicians performing technical inspection on spraying equipment, and requirements for Test centres; Annex V: Species and habitats of Community interest linked to aquatic environments; Annex VI: Handling and storage of pesticides and treatment of their packaging and remnants; and Annex VII containing the list of risk indicators.
The Plan sets out solutions to reduce the impact of pesticides also in non-agricultural areas used by the general public, such as urban areas, roads, railway lines, public parks and gardens, school grounds, sports and recreation grounds and all their ancillary areas. In line with the contents of Directive 2009/128/EC and Legislative Decree No 150/2012, the Plan pursues the following general objectives, in order to reduce the risks associated with the use of pesticides: reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health, the environment and biodiversity; encourage the uptake of integrated pest management, organic farming and other alternative approaches; protect the users of pesticides and the general public concerned; protect consumers; protect the aquatic environment and drinking water; conserve biodiversity and protect ecosystems.
To achieve these objectives, the Plan shall pursue the following priorities: ensure the extensive and systematic delivery of training on the risks linked to the use of pesticides; provide accurate information to the general public about the potential risks of pesticide use; establish a comprehensive system for the regular check, adjustment and maintenance of spraying machinery; prohibit the aerial application of pesticides, granting derogations in specific cases; establish specific protection actions in areas of high environmental value, and actions to protect the aquatic environment; ensure that the handling, storage and disposal of pesticides and their containers are performed correctly; make provision for the use of low-pesticide pest-control in agriculture, in order to preserve a high degree of biodiversity and protect crops from pests, by promoting the appropriate agricultural techniques; provide for an increase in the size of areas farmed with organic methods, within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 834/07 and of areas under voluntary integrated pest management (Law No 4 of 3 February 2011); identify appropriate indicators to measure the effectiveness of the actions put in place under the Plan, and disseminate the results of monitoring.
The actions set out in the Plan are consistent with the provisions of Directive 2000/60/EC and with all other applicable EU legislation on the use of pesticides, and they contribute to achieving its objectives. Special emphasis is laid on monitoring to check progress made and highlight problem areas; this will, inter alia, enable the authorities concerned to revise the measures in place, each within its remit. The main entities involved in implementation of the Plan are: the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, the Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, University and Research, the Regions and the Autonomous Provinces, municipalities, public research entities, the entities managing Natura 2000 sites and protected areas, farmers and any other pesticide users, the producers and distributors of pesticides and all the parties proposing alternative methods and techniques, pesticide advisors, the railway and road managing agencies, and all those public and private entities, including associations, which manage green areas used by the general public.
Also full set of technical sheets and indications and requirements is part of this Plan. Annex I: Specific training objectives for the different types of course (initial and continuing training); Annex II: Components of the pesticide application equipment subject to technical inspection, method of performing the inspection and equipment operation requirements; Annex III: Minimum requirements for the equipment used to perform technical inspections; Annex IV: Contents of the training course for technicians performing technical inspection on spraying equipment, and requirements for Test centres; Annex V: Species and habitats of Community interest linked to aquatic environments; Annex VI: Handling and storage of pesticides and treatment of their packaging and remnants; and Annex VII containing the list of risk indicators.
Attached files
Web site
Date of text
Repealed
No
Source language
English
Legislation status
in force
Legislation Amendment
No
Implements