What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?
As defined in the sustainable use of pesticides directive (Directive 2009/128/EC), ‘integrated pest management’ means careful consideration of all available plant protection methods and subsequent integration of appropriate measures that discourage the development of populations of harmful organisms and keep the use of plant protection products and other forms of intervention to levels that are economically and ecologically justified and reduce or minimise risks to human health and the environment. ‘Integrated pest management’ emphasises the growth of a healthy crop with the least possible disruption to agro-ecosystems and encourages natural pest control mechanisms; In more simple terms: "IPM is a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.“
Who should use IPM?
All professional users of Plant Protection Products (PPPs) must operate to the “general principles” of IPM from January 1st, 2014. Professional users of PPPs are encouraged to adopt crop specific or sector specific guidelines to produce certain products.
What is a professional user of PPPs?
As defined in the sustainable use of pesticides directive (Directive 2009/128/EC),, a ‘professional user’ means any person who uses pesticides in the course of their professional activities, including operators, technicians, employers and self-employed people, both in the farming and other sectors; So, in effect all users of PPPs, except those who merely use PPPs in an amateur context such as private garden use.
What are the general principles of IPM?
The general principles of IPM are a set of guiding bases which were defined in the sustainable use of pesticides directive. They are designed to help end users of PPPs to reduce reliance on PPP use and to reduce the risks associated with such use. They are easy to understand and easy to implement.
What IPM records will farmers/growers be required to maintain?
Records proving implementation of IPM must be maintained by all farmers/growers. If using a PPP, the reason for using the PPP should be recorded in the user’s Pesticide Application Record sheet (see Appendices). A “tick box” worksheet has also been designed to enable farmers/growers demonstrate how they are adopting the general principles of IPM (see Appendices). There are no exemptions from the requirement to maintain these records.
What happens if I do not maintain records?
The marketing and use of PPPs are primarily covered by the approval regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009) and the sustainable use of pesticides directive (Directive 2009/128/EC). Only Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 is covered under Statutory Management Requirement 10 (SMR10). Therefore, if records of PPP use and rationale for their use are not provided, a percentage disallowance for Single Payment recipients will ensue, with the possibility of a fixed payment notice of €250. If IPM records proving implementation of the general principle of IPM are not maintained, a fixed payment notice of €250 will be considered.
Pestatac.ie is a pest control agency servicing all areas of Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Galway & Dublin. Contact Pest Atac today to get a free consultation, and we will see how best to deal with your pest problem.