Brussels, Belgium
June 19, 2013

The International Code of Conduct on Pesticides Management, a guidance document issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, was recently revised to clearly reference public health and bring the Code in line with current best management practices. CropLife International and its member companies in the plant science industry support and abide by the Code's provisions as a standard for the manufacturing, distribution and use of pesticides.

"The Code of Conduct is important because it controls the quality and use of pesticides, safeguarding human and environmental health," says Howard Minigh, president and CEO of CropLife International. "The plant science industry has a vested interest in ensuring that its products are used responsibly. To this end, it has worked with the FAO to develop standards based on modern agriculture and science."

The revised Code of Conduct, formerly known as the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides, takes a lifecycle approach to pesticides from development to farm use and disposal, including obsolete agrochemical stocks and empty product containers. It is based on risk assessment and the shared responsibility of all parties involved in manufacturing and handling pesticides. The accepted revisions augment protection of human health and the environment by further limiting the availability of products sold to the public in non-specialised outlets, safeguarding intellectual property to discourage counterfeit products from entering the marketplace and requiring "expiry date" or "release date" on bio-pesticides and other pesticides, respectively.

"The Code of Conduct encourages responsible trade practices," notes Minigh. "It reduces risks for handling pesticides and promotes their responsible and effective use to protect plant, animal and human health."

Serving as a voluntary standard and point of reference for the sound management of pesticides, the Code was developed in 1985 by the FAO in cooperation with the plant science industry and related international entities. Updated in 1989 and revised in 2002, the Code of Conduct was revised in 2013 to provide more reference to public health pesticides and reflect changes in management practices and international conventions relating to the use of pesticides.

"Ultimately, the Code of Conduct promotes sustainable agricultural practices and public health applications that are cost-effective, environmentally sound and socially acceptable," Minigh concludes. "CropLife International and the plant science industry firmly endorse these global standards to maximize the safe and effective use of pesticides while minimizing risks to farmers and the environment."
 

Website: http://www.croplife.org

Published: June 19, 2013