Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of monitoring the certification regarding the use, storage and disposal of plant protection products.

Pesticides are tightly regulated in the UK and plant protection products can only be sold or used after they have been authorised. Authorised products are often subject to restrictions on the ways in which they are used, so as to ensure protection of human health and the environment. These restrictions can include application rates, timings and specific risk mitigation measures. There is also guidance for professional pesticide users which includes information on correct use, storage and disposal of plant protection products. Several schemes, such as cross-compliance requirements for rural payments and various farm assurance schemes, include inspections covering pesticide storage facilities, record-keeping and practices.

The UK has a National Action Plan which includes a range of measures to ensure the sustainable use of pesticides. The Government is advised on the progress with this Plan by a stakeholder group, the Pesticides Forum. The Forum considers a range of information, including the results of relevant Government monitoring schemes. Its latest Annual Report states that the UK's range of controls is effective and is ensuring that pesticides are being used in a more sustainable fashion.