Guidance On Pesticide Licensing Schemes

This new guidance will complement the technical guidance documents already developed to implement the FAO/WHO International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management. It is developed jointly with WHO. This document is intended to guide pesticide regulators, especially in low- and middle-income countries, for designing and implementing national pesticide licensing schemes, outlining elements, requirements, and options for countries wishing to establish or strengthen their programs for licensing of activities related to the pesticide life cycle.

Within the context of the implementation of the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management, this document is intended to provide specific guidance for countries wishing to establish or strengthen their programmes for licensing of activities connected to the pesticide life-cycle, including import, storage, distribution, sale and specific uses, and to provide guidance on options to set up and improve national licensing schemes. This guidance is designed primarily for use by government authorities in charge of pesticide management, in particular pesticide regulations, compliance, enforcement and risk reduction, as well as may also be useful in sectors such as the pesticide industry, nongovernmental organizations and other relevant entities in low-and middle-income countries in which there is limited legislation, compliance and enforcement, and resources for pesticide management.

The purpose of the guidelines is to provide guidance to governments that seek to review, update or design national pesticide legislation. It should be emphasized, however, that legislation alone cannot ensure effective pesticide management and adequate protection of the environment and public health. Governments will need to have in place the necessary institutional infrastructure for registering pesticides and enforcing legislation. Further, governments also need effective supporting policies and tools to promote sustainable pest and pesticide management. This may include promoting Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Vector Management (IVM) through training programmes and incentive schemes, increasing availability and use of low risk products, fostering scientific research, carrying out public education campaigns and providing training for inspectors, retailers and professional users. A solid legislative framework should underpin the selected institutional framework, policies and tools. This document supersedes the Guidelines for Legislation on the Control of Pesticides of 1989.

The use of household pesticides to control pests and disease vectors in homes and gardens is common in high-income countries (HICs) and is increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where such pesticides are often sold in local shops and informal markets for use by the general public. The human and environmental risks from the use of these products should not be underestimated. The incorrect use and improper storage and disposal of household pesticides, often due to the absence of any training in pesticide use or risks as well as poor understanding of label information, results in many poisoning and self-harm incidents every year.

Pesticides are widely used by pest control operators (PCOs) for the control of vectors, pests of public health importance, stored product pests, structural pests such as termites and wood-boring insects, as well as weeds along highways and public places. The use of pesticides in close proximity to the human population by PCOs who are untrained, lacking in competence and unregulated in many countries is of great concern. Such uncontrolled pest control activities not only affect human health and at times even kill but also cause adverse environmental effects and shorten the period of availability of much needed pesticides due to resistance.