General Information

Pesticides are important in modern farming and will remain indispensable for the foreseeable future. Without them it would be practically impossible to produce the enormous quantities of food that are required to feed the world's growing population. However, there is growing concern about the safety and quality of food. Pesticides include many hazardous substances. They must be applied with utmost care in the most efficient manner to protect crops and farm animals, while leaving the lowest possible residues in food and the environment.

However, to be effective it is inevitable that some residues remains. As the use of pesticides has increased governments have introduced measures to restrict and regulate their use to protect the users of pesticides, consumers, domestic animals and the environment at large.The decision to register the use of a pesticide is based on the assessment of the results of very extensive research work on the toxicity and the fate of active ingredient, its metabolites and degradation products, together with data on the magnitude of residues obtained from supervised trials. The conditions of use specified in the registration document or use permit is called "Good Agricultural Practice" (GAP).

The production of safe and good quality food cannot be achieved without the strict control of the quality and use of pesticides and veterinary drugs.

You are the Visitor since 28 October 1998