Product approval

The pesticide industry is continually developing new, innovative products and technologies that deliver a wide range of benefits in direct response to public demand. The official approval process for pesticides in the EU is one of the most stringent in the world and is primarily designed to safeguard human health and the environment. A fundamental principle lies behind the European legislation governing these products: it is more important to protect human health, wildlife and the environment than to improve agricultural productivity.

In our Frequently Asked Questions, we seek to provide you with our answers to a number of the most common concerns and queries we hear about pests and pesticides. However if you have a question that has not been answered in the FAQ, please email us.

Animals are used in the assessment of the safety of pesticides, to both humans and the environment, as required by European law. Although alternative test methods have reduced the reliance on animal testing and the number of animals involved, computer simulations and test tube methods cannot replicate the complexity or reactions of a living creature. Nevertheless, the crop protection industry is committed to the minimal and responsible use of animals, using alternative research and testing methods wherever possible.