Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister has welcomed the publication
of the UK Pesticides National Action Plan 2025 (NAP).
The UK Pesticides National Action Plan 2025 sets out how all four
UK Governments will work with farmers, growers, and other land
managers to minimise the impacts of pesticides on people and the
environment whilst managing pests sustainably and supporting food
production.
Minister Muir said: “I welcome the role my department has
played in developing the new UK Pesticides National Action Plan
working in close partnership with officials from the UK
Government, Scottish Government and Welsh Government. The plan
recognises that pesticides have a key role to play in our
agriculture and amenity industries. It is important that
pesticide users have the tools to ensure a sustainable supply of
food, safeguard natural landscapes from native and invasive pests
and maintain transport infrastructure and amenity areas.
“However, the use of pesticides must be carefully managed
and controlled to make sure that they do not pose a risk to human
and animal health and that there are no adverse environmental
impacts on water quality and biodiversity.”
Pesticide resistance, climate change, and invasive species pose
significant challenges to our food security, the management of
our natural landscapes and maintenance of our transport
infrastructure and amenity areas. The Plan sets out how pesticide
users will be supported to increase their use of nature friendly
approaches to pest management and embrace alternative measures to
reduce the potential harm from pesticides by 10% by 2030, while
controlling pests and pesticide resistance
effectively.
Sustainable pesticide use means healthier ecosystems where vital
pollinators, such as bees, are allowed to flourish – boosting
crop health and food production for the long-term. By using
nature-based solutions and alternative techniques, farmers can
better safeguard crops for the long-term, helping to cut down
expenditure on pesticides, and contributing towards greater
productivity.
We also want to address some of the key barriers to Integrated
Pest Management uptake in the amenity sector and reduce reliance
on pesticides, whilst recognising the continuing role pesticides
will play for example, in ensuring public highways are accessible
and safe.
The core goals of the National Action Plan are to:
- Set clear targets and measures to monitor the use of
pesticides
- Encourage uptake of Integrated Pest Management
- Strengthen compliance and promote good practice
Further information and a link to the UK Pesticides National
Action Plan 2025 can be found at: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/departmental-responsibilities-regarding-pesticides#toc-9
Notes to editors:
- Stakeholders have been involved throughout the development of
the UK Pesticides National Action Plan 2025.
- The Pesticides NAP public consultation took place between
4/12/2020 and 26/02/2021, the Summary of Responses is available
to view at: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/consultations/sustainable-use-pesticides-draft-national-action-plan.
