ACP PESTICIDES INITIATIVE

In April 2000, COLEACP proposed a 'Pesticides Initiative' as an intermediary action plan and first answer to the critical situation being faced by the ACP horticultural export industry, which is heavily dependent on small growers. This plan is now being widely implemented by ACP and EU key players, with the objective of maintaining the market share of ACP suppliers in the EU by demonstrating their compliance with the new harmonized safety requirements. Under this initiative, a number of urgent actions have been undertaken in Brussels, including the establishment of:

• an 'Information unit' which will continuously disseminate user-friendly information to ACP countries on matters concerning pesticides, particularly by developing databases on the European Union's regulations governing MRLs,
• an 'MRL' unit which will conduct trials in tropical regions for the generation of data to support the setting of appropriate MRLs,
• a 'Best Practice' unit which will provide assistance to producers and exporters in ACP countries to adjust their practices through the development and application of crop protocols that comply with the EU regulations that are in force,
• a 'Capacity-Building' unit which will support the establishment of local knowledge to facilitate the achievement of the programme's objectives.

The Pesticides Initiative Programme has a website with information on the following:

• Information about the PIP's activities to support exporters and details of how to get access to support
• A Database of MRLs currently applicable in Europe and the Member States
• Information on the regulations in force in Europe and other importing countries
• Regularly updates news on pesticides issue.

You can register for the free monthly PIP information newsletter on the website: http://www.coleacp.org/fo_internet/en/pesticides/index.html.

The website is: http://www.coleacp.org/en/pesticides/index.html

Related Information: MRL Harmonization Programme; Pesticide Approvals; Implications of EU Legislation; Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures