Dramatic new regulations have been outlined in the EU’s proposed new sustainable use of pesticides regulation (SUR). This will replace the current sustainable use directive (SUD).

A public consultation on the proposals is currently open and anyone can submit their views on the proposal.

The new regulations have two main targets. The first is to reduce the use and risk of chemicals by 50% by 2030 and the second is to reduce by 50% the use of the more hazardous pesticides by 2030.

Other measures include the banning of pesticide use within 3m of sensitive areas. At present, Ireland as a whole is defined as a sensitive area, as it is a nitrates sensitive zone.

Advice

There is also a proposal that advisers offering advice on pesticides should be free of conflict. There is currently a shortage of qualified pesticide advisers in this country.

In general, farmers receive advice on pesticides from merchants or co-ops selling pesticides and some receive advice from Teagasc or independent advisers.

The number of independent advisers is tiny in this country and most also carry out direct payments and scheme applications, which takes up a huge amount of time.

Electronic systems

Another proposal requires electronic records to be kept on integrated pest management, plant protection product registers and professional users will be required to keep electronic records on any intervention used.

There will also be a register of pesticide application equipment.

Submissions must be made by 20 January 2023 and can be emailed to surconsultation@agriculture.gov.ie.

For more details on the proposals and details on how to make a submission, click here.