The sustainable use of pesticides legislation has measures that reduce the risks and the impact of pesticide use on human health and the environment.

The legislation promotes the use of alternative approaches or techniques, such as non-chemical alternatives to pesticides and the use of integrated pest management (IPM). Such techniques strive to reduce the dependency on the use of pesticides.

To support these goals, the legislation necessitates the draw­ing up of a national action plan to implement the range of actions set in the legislation.

Through consultation with the applicable stakeholders, a re­viewed comprehensive plan has been compiled to support the range of actions set to reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment and promote alternative approaches to pest management.

This plan expands on the frame­work of the former national action plan to consolidate the previously set objectives, targets and measures, with ongoing actions, while establishing further specific actions to support the main objectives.

The plan focuses on the training of professional users and distributors of plant protection products, the inspection of pesticide application equipment in use, measures in relation to handling and use of plant protection products, measures to protect the aquatic environment and drinking water and the limitation of use of these pro­ducts in specified areas, including areas used by the pubic with specific reference to vulnerable groups, protected areas and areas identified for the purpose of establishing conservation measures.

An additional objective of the plan relates to information and awareness raising among professional users and applicable stake­holders, including the public, on pesticide risks and the potential effects for human health, non-target organisms and the environment arising from the use of such products.

Another main objective is that of the promotion of techniques, such as integrated pest management as well as organic farming and to support the reduction of the use of pesticides and encourage practices with the lowest risk to human health and the environment.

The revision of the plan has taken into consideration the social, economic and environmental impacts of the previous actions, in addition to the health of the public, and expands on these actions for the benefit of Maltese agriculture, the environment and human health. 

The reviewed National Action Plan for the sustainable use of pesticides in Malta is currently open for public consultation. The reviewed plan can be accessed from the MCCAA website at www.mccaa.org.mt.

Contributions and feedback from interested parties may be sent by e-mail to consultations.mccaa@mccaa.org.mt.