This National Action Plan (NAP) to reduce the risk associated with the use of plant protection products is a cross-sectoral policy document. The main objectives of the national action plan are: 1) dissemination of general principles of integrated pest management; 2) prevention of risks associated with the use of plant protection products.
The NAP seeks to make agriculture more sustainable. A key objective for Poland in the implementation of the national action plan is to promote the general principles of integrated pest management. Full implementation of these principles, in particular by promoting non-chemical plant protection methods, will reduce the dependence of crop production on chemical plant protection products. As a result of the implementation of best practices on the use of plant protection products, the risks associated with their use will be limited to a minimum. Therefore, the objectives of the national action plan will contribute to the overarching idea of Directive 2009/128/EC, i.e. the sustainable use of pesticides, and thus sustainable development of Polish agriculture.
The NAP seeks to contribute to more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. A set of indicators will be used to assess the risks associated with the use of plant protection products, including: 1) percentage of the food samples of plant origin with residues of plant protection products in excess of the maximum permissible levels of residues; 2) percentage of food samples of animal origin with residues of plant protection products in excess of the maximum permissible levels of residues; 3) percentage of feed samples of with residues of plant protection products in excess of the maximum permissible levels of residues; 4) percentage of the plant samples, taken under the control of the correct application of plant protection products, with residues of plant protection products in excess of the maximum permissible levels of residues; 5) level of pesticide residues in surface water and groundwater; 6) level of pesticide residues in samples of drinking water; 7) statistics on the use of plant protection products; 8) statistics on the sale of plant protection products; 9) number and type of violations of the law in the area of marketing and use of plant protection products; 10) data on poisoning of people with plant protection products; 11) data on poisoning of bees with plant protection products; 12) data on the behaviour of professional users of plant protection products when making a decision on the use of chemical plant protection products and during such treatment. Proposed measures include: Dissemination of the general principles of integrated pest management; Modification of the training system for professional users of plant protection products, sellers of these preparations and advisers; Modification of the system for testing the equipment intended for use of plant protection products; Raising public awareness on plant protection products; Ensuring protection for minor crops; Ensuring effective supervision of trading and use of plant protection products; Analysis of risk associated with the use of plant protection products; Promoting good practice for safe use of plant protection products; Use of research for integrated pest management and reduction of risk associated with the use of plant protection products.