Pesticides: framework for Community action to achieve a sustainable use of pesticides

At its Plenary Session of 13 January 2009, the European Parliament adopted a compromise package which had been agreed with the Council in view of reaching a second reading agreement. The Commission accepts the compromise package as it is in line with the overall purpose and the general characteristics of the proposal.

These amendments concern essentially:

• the establishment of risk and use reduction targets in National Action Plans with reporting requirements for the Commission;
• the strengthening of the protection of residents and bystanders;
• requirements for the distribution of pesticides to non-professional users;
• the establishment of systems for gathering information on poisoning incidents among people regularly exposed to pesticides;
• the handling of requests for aerial spraying;
• the use of pesticides in specific areas.