Some pioneer Member States began to implement pesticides use reduction plans in the late 1980s or early 1990s. The same is valid for Norway. The key concerns of these Member States for implementing use reduction were: contamination of water resources used for human consumption; adverse effects on ecology; risks to consumers of food with residues; effects of exposure to residues in water, soil and air; and contamination of surface water or the marine environment.
In addition to increased scientific knowledge about toxicological and ecotoxicological properties of pesticides, new research findings are leading to conceptual shifts in the fundamentals toxicology. These changes in our scientific understanding highlight the importance of urgent action to implement precautionary pesticides dependency reduction. The traditional way of controlling pesticide problems has been to tackle each substance individually, but there is ample evidence to suggest that this approach has not been adequate. As stated in the Commission Communication on the Sixth Environmental Action Programme , « there is sufficient evidence to suggest that problems associated with contamination of the environment and food by pesticides are serious and growing » We are just beginning to understand the health effects of exposure to small quantities of pesticides , often over a period of time, as well as the way different contaminants interact in our bodies but « a clear overall picture of health impacts resulting from complex, real life exposure is missing». As stated in a recent WHO/EEA report, the foetus, infants and children are more vulnerable, both quantitatively and qualitatively, to pesticides than adults and are also more exposed. Current core tests and risk assessment methodologies do not fully ensure pesticide safety for this vulnerable group. Possible health effects include immunological effects, endocrine disrupting effects , neurotoxic disorders and cancer. For all these reasons, there is an urgent need to act to protect particularly vulnerable groups in society.
Moreover, an increasing number of studies show that pesticides negatively affect biodiversity, not only in the place where they are applied but also in other ecosystems. These complex indirect effects on ecosystems are not currently addressed in pesticides risk assessments or reflected in pesticides risk and dependance on chemical pesticides’. In this context, PAN Europe provides this summary assessment of strategies for pesticides use and/or risk reduction implemented by pioneer Member States and by Norway. It describes the measures involved, their effectiveness, the main factors of success or of difficulties encountered, and advantages and limitations of the target indicators used. We hope that this information will be useful for Member States officials as well as for other stakeholders for discussion on national level reduction plans envisaged in the Thematic Strategy.