Recommendations for UK supermarkets

PAN UK is calling for supermarkets to take a range of measures to reduce pesticide-related harms linked to their operations. Below is a list of our full recommendations. As revealed by our ranking, the efforts made by different supermarkets vary greatly, so some supermarkets will be taking many of the actions listed below, while others far fewer. However, no supermarket is even close to adopting all the measures listed so they all have a way to go.

As a starting point, PAN UK would urge all supermarkets to state clearly in their company policies that their aim is to reduce both pesticide use and pesticide-related harms linked to their global supply chains. This will send a clear message to their suppliers about their direction of travel and provide their customers with confidence that their supermarket is working to better protect human health and environment from pesticides.

It should be noted that PAN UK expects all supermarkets to follow the laws in the countries in which they operate and, as such, the recommendations below go beyond legal compliance. In addition, wherever possible, supermarkets should be directly responsible for implementing the changes below and not rely on external certification schemes or third-party organisations.

PAN UK’s ranking assessed supermarkets on eight key topics related to pesticides and our specific recommendations are presented below. We are calling for supermarkets to:

1. Phasing out the most hazardous pesticides from their global supply chains through the following actions:

Take a precautionary approach by phasing out the use of the most hazardous pesticides.
Adopt the PAN International List of Highly Hazardous Pesticides as the basis of their monitored, restricted and prohibited lists.
Use hazard classifications and other criteria to decide which active substances to prohibit, restrict and monitor.
Assess chronic human health hazards and risks when deciding which active substances to prohibit, restrict and monitor
Regularly review and update their monitored, restricted and prohibited lists in line with the latest scientific research and regulatory decisions.

2. Support their suppliers to reduce pesticide use and adopt non-chemical alternatives and genuine Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches through the following actions:

Conduct research into IPM techniques and share it with all their suppliers, as well as making it publicly available.
Provide training and develop practical guidance documents on pesticide reduction and IPM.
Provide extra support to suppliers outside of the EU and UK to assist them in reducing their use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides.
Offer bespoke advice to farmers and growers on how to reduce their pesticide use and adopt IPM techniques.
Establish grower groups to enable farmers and growers to come together and share learnings with each other on pesticide reduction and IPM.
Put in place measures to reduce the post-harvest use of pesticides such as ensuring that fresh produce is packed and stored well.
Prioritise the development of IPM strategies to replace active substances included in the PAN International List of Highly Hazardous Pesticides, and/or included on the lists of pesticides which they restrict and monitor.

3. Stringently monitor pesticide residues and take action to reduce residues in food through the following actions:

Test a wide variety of products for pesticide residues including, but not limited to, fruit and vegetables, wheat and other cereal products, processed foods, rice, meat, fish and dairy.
Prioritise the following active substances when testing for residues;
- Those listed in the PAN International List Of Highly Hazardous Pesticides
- Those banned for use by the EU for which permissible residue levels are set at 0.
- Possible, probable, and known carcinogens and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)
Include random sampling of products from across the global supply chain in their residue testing programmes to discourage bad agricultural practice by suppliers.
Have in place stringent and timely action plans for dealing with problems of high residues, including working with specific suppliers to reduce pesticide use and adopt non-chemical alternatives.
Use the results from their residue testing programmes to:
- inform which active substances to prioritise for phase-out.
- inform which crops and countries to prioritise for IPM strategies.
Adopt the strictest and, therefore most precautionary, Maximum Residue Level of any jurisdiction in which they operate. In particular, when EU and UK Maximum Residue Limits diverge, supermarkets should apply the stricter of the two.
Carry out stringent investigative action plans as soon as a residue that goes beyond 50 percent of the UK legal limit (Maximum Residue Level) is detected.
Put in place measures designed to reduce and avoid instances of multiple residues appearing on single items (known as ‘pesticide cocktails’).

4. Reduce the harm caused to bees and pollinators by their operations by taking a range of actions including but not limited to:

Ban the four bee-toxic neonicotinoids clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and thiacloprid (which are banned in the UK) from use anywhere in the company’s global supply chains. End the use of other pesticides shown to be harmful to bees and other pollinators, including but not limited to acetamiprid, fipronil, sulfloxaflor, flupyradifurone and permethrin.
Provide support such as training, guidance documents and advice to all suppliers to adopt pollinator-friendly practices such as leaving field margins uncultivated.
Require suppliers to monitor pollinator activity and provide data to the company.
Support research on the effect of pesticides on pollinators, pollinator-health on suppliers’ farms and alternative non-chemical practices and share the findings with growers.
Create forums to bring farmers together to share tips and advice on protecting pollinators.
Engage in the process around the UK Government’s National Pollinator Strategy.

5. Proactively communicate with customers to drive a change in attitudes which enables a reduction in pesticide use. Specifically, encourage customers to:

Buy fruit and vegetables which aren’t cosmetically perfect, thereby reducing the need for cosmetic pesticides.
Accept that not all fresh produce will be available all year round.
Accept that they may occasionally find a ‘bug’ (either a pest or a beneficial) in fresh produce they buy. This should be communicated to customers through proactive measures such as signs in stores (and not just in response to customer complaints).

6. Immediately end the sale of synthetic pesticide products from both their garden and pet care ranges in their stores and online, and increase the offer of non-chemical alternatives.

7. Become more transparent about pesticides by making a range of information publicly available and easily accessible, including but not limited to:

Detailed results of their residue testing programme for the past three years.
The company’s pesticide policy, including plans for pesticide reduction.
Lists of specific pesticides (active substances) which the company monitors, restricts and prohibits.
Case studies of best practice by suppliers to reduce pesticide use and adopt non-chemical alternatives.

8. Increase efforts to boost organic sales as part of a pesticide reduction strategy including:

Increase the range of organic products on offer.
Offer deals and discounts on organic products to encourage customers to buy them.
Conduct proactive marketing and advertising of organic products.
Communicate the benefits of buying organic to customers and staff.