Plant protection in EU agriculture
Pesticides are forms of pesticides used in farming and forestry to protect crops and other plants from pests and diseases. They have an important role to play in helping the European Union to achieve its objectives regarding plant health and food security.
However, overuse and other inappropriate uses of pesticides, in particular chemical pesticides, can have a negative impact on soil, water, and agricultural biodiversity. Their use can also have detrimental effects on the environment as well as plant, animal, and human health. The placing on the market and use of pesticides is therefore strictly regulated by EU rules on pesticides.







