Latvian Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products 2019–2023

The Latvian Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products 2019–2023 is a sectoral action plan of Latvia. Its main objective is to reduce the risk and impact caused by the use of plant protection products on human health and the environment.
The introduction of the integrated pest management, which is based on the development, promotion and application of alternative methods of plant protection, is an essential task for achieving of this objective. It will, in turn, reduce farmers’ dependence on chemical plant protection products (PPPs). Among others, the Action Plan provides to include topics related to plant protection in the curricula of vocational agricultural schools; organize seminars for trainers on current issues in the area of plant protection; supervise training staff; Improve the training system for all categories of learners; Establish an online training system for amateurs on a safe use of PPPs; During operational inspections to control distribution of illegal PPPs, paying particular attention to the distribution sites located close to the state border; prepare informative booklets on a safe and responsible use of PPPs and deliver them to the points of sale where PPPs of Class 3 are distributed; organise an information campaign for farmers and nonprofessional users of PPPs on the harmfulness of illegal and counterfeit PPPs; inform the general public on a safe use of PPPs; inform users of PPPs of potential risks that may arise from an incorrect application of PPPs; conduct a survey on the use of personal protective equipment when handing PPPs; identify deficiencies; monitor pesticide residues and inform the public of the results of the monitoring of PPP residues; conduct a study in agricultural holdings on safety at work when handling PPPs; set up a working group to analyse the cases of acute and chronic poisoning with PPPs; continue to record cases of poisoning with PPPs; monitoring of PPPs containing certain active substances; carry out a study on the effects that active substances of PPPs have on the environmental, water and food quality; to update the public awareness raising programme; develop guidelines for informing neighbours of the potential risks of the use of PPPs; conduct a study on the required waiting time after the spraying of PPPs when it is allowed to enter the treated area; conduct a study on the health status of honey bee colonies in Latvia; organise an information campaign for protection of pollinating insects; prepare an assessment on the use of hand-held and backpack portable sprayers for professional use in Latvia; inspect PPP application equipment; inform professional users about the benefits of inspected PPP application equipment; to evaluate the use of drones for aerial spraying of PPPs; submit proposals on active substances to be included in water monitoring; continue monitoring and inform the public about the results of the monitoring of surface waters and groundwater; take water samples from the springs that are widely used by the public for extraction of drinking water and around which intensive farming takes place; control the use of PPPs in specially protected areas; develop recommendations for reduction of the use of PPPs in specific areas; inform users of PPPs of the potential hazards that may arise from the use of PPPs; control the use of PPPs; obtain information about disposal of empty PPP packaging on the farms in order to improve the process of disposal of empty packaging in Latvia; preparation and publication of a brochure on the use of basic substances; promote the establishment of cleaning areas on farms; prepare information campaigns on the point source pollution strategy; provide opportunities to professional users of PPPs to learn about the practical implementation of principles of IPM; organise and conduct informative seminars on the implementation of IPM requirements; prepare and publish manuals with descriptions and images of organisms (diseases, pests) harmful to crops; review the guidelines for integrated crop production, supplement them with the latest scientific findings, photos of harmful organisms; improve the website noverojumi.vaad.gov.lv of the SPPS, supplement it with up-todate information on integrated crop production and specific descriptions of harmful organisms; identify PPPs containing microbiological and living organisms which are allowed in the Member States of the Northern and Central zone; promote registration of those products that have a low degree of harmfulness; facilitate a comparative assessment of PPPs; promote the use of basic substances; give exams for issuing certificates of plant protection advisors; summarise and promote alternative methods of plant protection; summarise alternative methods to the use of PPP containing glyphosate and facilitate their implementation; summarise plant protection methods authorised on organic farms; create and introduce an electronic field logbook; ensure the collection of statistics on the distributed PPPs; ensure the collection of statistics on the used PPPs; and collect the data necessary for calculation of indicators as part of supervision measures; introduce the approved harmonised risk indicators approved by the EC.