International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management

Publication date

05 Sep 2014

<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Since its adoption by the FAO Conference in 1985, the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides has been amended twice, in 1989 and in 2002. The Code provides a voluntary framework for the life cycle management of pesticides and remains widely accepted by countries, intergovernmental organizations, the private sector and civil society. A consequence of its wide acceptance and its value as a tool is that more international organizations wish to adopt it. Therefore it is important to keep the Code up to date and aligned with developments in the field of chemicals and pesticide management. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) which have long collaborated in its development and implementation have expressed an interest in having the Code officially adopted by their Governing bodies. In order to do so a number of amendments were required to strengthen the way the Code addresses the health and environment sectors. In the process of reviewing the Code, the FAO and WHO expert panels on pesticide management identified several articles that could benefit from clarification and/or simplification, update or strengthening. <o:p></o:p>The new Code places more emphasis on public health pesticides and the impacts of pesticides on health and the environment, with updated definitions as well as specific references to Highly Hazardous Pesticides and protection of vulnerable groups from the effects of pesticides. The Code is the framework on pesticide management for all public and private entities engaged production, regulation and management of pesticides. It provides guidance on all aspects of pesticide management to governments, pesticide industry and other stakeholders. Importantly, it serves as a point of reference in relation to sound pesticide life cycle management practices for government authorities and the pesticide industry. You can dowload the new Code below. For more information, please visit: <a href="http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/pests/code/en/">http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/pests/code/en/</a>

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Issue keywords

Biosafety / Biosecurity

Integrated Pest Management/IPM