title: A process to provide harmonised criteria for the selection of indicators for pesticide risk reduction within the framework of the sustainable use directive.
abstract: In October 2009, the Council of the European Union adopted the Directive on Sustainable Use of Pesticides (EU 128/2009/EC). This directive establishes a framework to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides by reducing the risk and impacts of pesticide use on both human health and the environment, and promoting the use of integrated pest management and of alternative approaches or techniques. These risks thus need to be assessed using appropriate risk indicators. The OPERA Research Centre organised an expert working group and has had several consultations with stakeholders in order to identify a common way of thinking in evaluating and identifying the factors that should be considered in selecting each indicator. Harmonised criteria have been suggested to allow the selection of the most appropriate indicators, focusing on the use phase of pesticide, as requested by the sustainable use directive. The proposed methodology has led to a sharing of perspectives and knowledge between the experts involved, and some principles have been identified to help national regulatory institutions to estimate general trends in pesticide risk reduction.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Chimica Agraria ed Ambientale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Piacenza, Piacenza, Italy. maura.calliera@unicatt.it
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calliera
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchis
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bollmohr
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sacchettini
authors.forename: Lucrezia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lamastra
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Capri
mesh_terms: D005062:European Union; D010571:Pest Control / Q000592:standards*; D010575:Pesticides; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides