What legislation regulates the marketing of pesticides?

The Council of EU Ministers has adopted Regulation 1107/2009, replacing Directive 91/414 governing the placement of pesticides on the market.

The directive regulates the placing of crop protection products on the market and harmonises national product approval requirements throughout Europe. Before being placed on the market, all active substances are evaluated at EU level, and the products containing the approved active substances are evaluated at national level, by taking into account specific local variations in climate, cropping and diet.

Both EU and national evaluations are performed by highly qualified and independent scientists. The key criterion to decide whether the pesticide shall be authorised or not, is a thorough scientific assessment of any possible risks to health and environment. 

Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC came into force on the 14th of June 2011.

For a detailed overview of the European situation, read our publication 'Registering plant protection products (pesticides) in the European Union' at http://www.ecpa.eu/information-page/regulatory-affairs/publications-regulatory-affairs