Pesticide profiles

There are some 800 active ingredients in use in Europe. Farmers may use dozens over a season, and these may vary from season to season. Farmers cannot be expected to know the detailed profile of each active, but at the same time have a legal duty under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) to use the least toxic product. Good practice also dictates that users use a product with the least harmful environmental profile. Pesticide profiles, produced by the Pesticides Trust [now PAN UK], set out on one page the basic health, environmental and regulatory aspects of a pesticide active ingredient.
    It used to be the case there was insufficient information in the public domain; perhaps now the case is that there is too much information on some aspects of individual actives, but not in an accessible, or digestible form to enable choices to be made. With the support of WWF UK, the Pesticides Trust is working with the Farming and Wildlife Action Group (FWAG) to address this problem.
    Guided by farmer group workshops and trials, this project aims to provide appropriate information in the public domain about pesticides to farmers and advisors in a clear, compact and accessible form in order to:

• reduce potential adverse impacts from pesticides and

• enable users to make informed and safer choices from approved products.

It will not replace training and experience in pesticide use or prescribe what product to use for a particular crop-which is clearly a professional task for the user and advisor. 
    The Pesticides Trust has met informally with groups of farmers and advisors from FWAG and other bodies over the past 18 months. We have discussed sources of information on pesticides, and farmers' requirements. Generally farmers have asked for concise, readable information which enables them to compare actives and be informed about the properties of different actives.
    Informal discussions have been held with parties such as water companies, British Agrochemicals Association, Health and Safety Executive and distributors. Profiles have also been sent to company registrants for comment. 
    Clearly, many of the environmental concerns will be very site specific in contrast to other concerns-for example, health and food residues-which will be apply across the board. Accordingly, the approach is to combine the profiles with a FWAG or other environmental assessment of the farm. In addition, it is anticipated there will be an introductory section by FWAG describing appropriate ways to minimize pesticide use.
    The profiles are being refined with farmer groups and other pesticide users. The final versions may involve pictograms, and may be presented as loose-leaf sheets or as cab cards. They may contain a list of products relating to a particular active. They may be made available on the Internet. The final format will be one that is useful to users. (PB)

Contact the Pesticides Trust [now PAN UK] for more details.

[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 39, March 1998, page 17 ]