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National Action Plan to Reduce the Risk Associated with the Use of Plant Protection Products 2018-2022

National Action Plan to Reduce the Risk Associated with the Use of Plant Protection Products 2018-2022

The National Action Plan to Reduce the Risk Associated with the Use of Plant Protection Products is a strategic document that fulfills obligations arising from European Union legislation. All Member States are obliged to develop such plans under Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council aimed at setting quantitative objectives, targets, measures, and timetables to reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment and at encouraging the development and introduction of integrated pest management and of alternative approaches or techniques in order to reduce dependency on the use of pesticides.

Adopted for Poland on May 6, 2013, the National Action Plan imposes no obligations on farmers, businesses, or citizens. Its implementation is largely within the remit of state administration. In its approach, the plan is focused on supporting farmers and other plant protection product users in achieving the objectives set out in EU legislation.

National Action Plan to Reduce the Risk Associated with the Use of Plant Protection Products 2018-2022

Poland’s key objectives in connection with the National Action Plan are to:

• promote the general principles of integrated pest management,
• prevent the risks associated with the use of plant protection products.

Once fully implemented, the integrated pest management approach and, in particular, encouragement for the use of non-chemical methods of plant protection, will reduce plant growers’ dependency on chemical plant protection products. The adoption of best practices in the use of plant protection products will minimize the risks associated with their application.

The following criteria have been adopted for assessing progress towards the main objectives of the National Action Plan, which are to disseminate the general principles of integrated pest management and eliminate risks associated with the use of plant protection products:

• The share of professional plant protection product users who apply the general principles of integrated pest management: in 2017, this share should be at least 90% (according to the State Plant Health and Seed Inspectorate),
• The share of cases exceeding the maximum permissible residue levels of pesticide in food of plant origin: during the implementation of the National Action Plan, this share should remain below 1% (according to the State Sanitary Inspectorate),
• The share of cases exceeding the maximum permissible residue levels of pesticides in food and feed of animal origin: during the implementation of the National Action Plan, this share should remain below 0.1% (according to the Veterinary Inspectorate).

The key nine activities implemented under the National Action Plan are to:

• Disseminate the general principles of integrated pest management.
• Modify the training system for professional users and distributors of plant protection products and plant protection product advisors.
• Modify the system of assessing the technical condition of plant protection product application equipment.
• Raise public awareness of plant protection products.
• Protect small crop cultivation areas.
• Effectively supervise the marketing and use of plant protection products.
• Analyze risks associated with the use of plant protection products.
• Promote good practices aimed at ensuring the safe use of plant protection products.
• Apply findings of scientific research on integrated plant protection to reduce risks associated with the use of such products.

The results of monitoring the implementation of the objectives of the National Action Plan, including the results of the assessment of risks associated with the use of plant protection products in 2013-2015 are provided in the following report:

Report on the implementation of the National Action Plan to Reduce the Risk Associated with the Use of Plant Protection Products 2013-2015