AIE Request

Purpose

To support the achievement of compliance with the Drinking Water Directive pesticide parametric limit at the point of abstraction and in treated water.

Objectives

1. Enhanced Collaboration: including linkages with other national groups.
2. Awareness Raising.
3. Track Progress and Activities by relevant stakeholders.
4. Consistency, standardisation of approach.
5. Serve as a Forum for escalating particular problems/constraints.
6. Clarify Roles and Responsibilities.
7. Identify Policy Gaps/Implementation.
8. Data sharing / Initiative Sharing / Knowledge Sharing.
9. Ensure appropriate measures in RBMP.
10. Identify gaps in research.
11. Identifying incentives e.g. grant schemes.
12. Standardisation of health advice.

Membership

DAFM – Aidan Moody, David McGilloway, Claire Fitzsimons
Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA) – Michael J Ryan
Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advice Programme (ASSAP) – Kieran Kenny
Animal and Plant Health Association (APHA) – John Keogh
Department of Housing Planning and Local Government (DHPLG) – Colin Byrne
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Darragh Cunningham, Anthony Mannix, Michelle Minihan
Federation of Agrochemical Retail Merchants (FARM) – Fintan Conway
Golf Course Superintendents Association of Ireland (GCSAI) – Damian McLaverty
Golf Ireland (GI) – Pat Suttle
Health Service Executive (HSE) – Paul McGuinness
Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) – Denis Drennan
Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) – Paul O’Brien

Irish Water – Emer Colwell, Lorraine Gaston, John Leamy
Local Authorities – Tom Griffin (Wicklow), Aidan Leonard (Limerick), Frank O’Flynn (Cork)
Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) – Kate Tynan
National Federation of Group Water Schemes (NFGWS) – Joe Gallagher
Teagasc – Michael Hennessy

Working Group Co-ordinator: Aidan Moody (DAFM)

Notes:

There were no reports commissioned by or presented to the National Pesticide and Drinking Water Action Group in 2020-22

The following main policy options were assessed against a likely baseline scenario where the SUD remains unchanged.

Option 1: The EU targets to reduce pesticide use by 50% and reduce pesticide risks by 50% to be achieved by 2030 remain non-legally binding. Advisory systems and guidance for pesticide users would be improved. Precision-farming techniques would be promoted to cut the use of – and risk from – chemical pesticides.

Option 2: The 50% reduction targets would become legally binding at EU level. Member States would set their own national reduction targets using established criteria. These national targets would then be legally binding (under national law) and subject to governance mechanisms linked to regular annual reporting by Member States. The use of more hazardous pesticides would be prohibited in sensitive areas such as urban green areas. Professional pesticide users would need to keep electronic records on pesticide use and on IPM to help reduce pesticide use. National authorities would collect and analyse those records to monitor progress and devise corrective measures at national level if necessary. Independent advisory services would advise pesticide users on alternative techniques and IPM.

Option 3 would be similar to option 2. However, under option 3, the 50% reduction targets would become legally binding at both EU and national level. The use of all chemical pesticides would be prohibited in sensitive areas such as urban areas and protected areas in accordance with Directive 2000/60/EC, Natura 2000 areas etc.

The preferred option is option 3, except for the targets, where option 2 is preferred. In this case, the targets to reduce both pesticide use and pesticide risk by 50% would become legally binding at EU level, with Member States setting their own national reduction targets under national law. The options have been assessed against a likely baseline scenario where the SUD remains unchanged. Prohibiting the use of all plant protection products in sensitive areas will maximise associated health and environmental benefits.

Regulatory fitness and simplification

In line with the Commission commitment to better regulation, the proposal has been prepared inclusively, based on transparency and continuous engagement with stakeholders. The evaluation did not identify possible legislative simplifications or reductions of regulatory burden that would make it easier to achieve the objectives of sustainable pesticide use. Micro-enterprises are not exempted from this proposal given the importance of uniform implementation of measures to reduce both the use of pesticides and the risk they pose to human health and the environment.

This proposal is in line with a digital-ready policy by promoting electronic record-keeping and online publication of trends in progress towards meeting:
(i) pesticide-reduction targets;
(ii) implementation of NAPs;
(iii) annual progress and implementation reports;
(iv) Commission recommendations; and
(v) Member State responses.

Relevant provisions for cost-efficient, user-centric and interoperable digital services will be considered in implementing rules for the electronic registers that will be created as a result of the proposal.

You can find information on current regulations on the use of Plant Protection Products in Ireland is available on our website through this link: https://www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie/plantprotectionproducts/useofplantprotectionproducts/.

The Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive (SUD) establishes a framework for European Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides by setting minimum rules to reduce the risks to human health and the environment that are associated with pesticide use. It also promotes the use of integrated pest management.

Record keeping, purchase, disposal and use records must be maintained when plant protection products authorised for professional use are purchased and applied.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) records to demonstrate the application of the general IPM principles must also be maintained. Further information is available on DAFM website here.

Finally, information on professional users and sprayer operators is available here.

Forms