The latest reports to be published are the edible protected crops and the outdoor vegetable crops reports for 2011: published 30 August 2012
Link to reports
What is being done to monitor the use of pesticides?
The Pesticide Usage Survey (PUS) collects quantitative and qualitative data on pesticides used in agriculture, horticulture and food storage. The EU Statistics Regulation (1185/2009/EC) requires the collection of data on sales and usage of pesticides. PUS data are now collected as part of that requirement.
The data collected provide essential information for determining Government policy concerning control of pesticides and has proved especially useful during the UK and EU review programmes of older pesticide active substances.
Since 1985 with the introduction of statutory controls on pesticides the survey has operated formally within the committee structure of the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) (under the direction of the Working Party on Pesticide Usage Surveys). Operating in this way ensures that all interested Government Departments are represented and that the surveys cover all aspects of pesticide usage – agricultural, horticultural and amenity use.
Surveys currently collect data on pesticides used on arable crops, vegetables, glasshouse crops, soft fruit, top fruit, fodder and forage, stored top fruit and potatoes. The surveys provide accurate information concerning regional and national pesticide usage including: the range of chemicals used; the amount of active ingredients applied; the total treated area; proportion of crops treated; methods and timing of application.
Surveys in England and Wales are carried out on behalf of CRD by The Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) at Sand Hutton, near York, with parallel surveys being carried out in Scotland by the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) and in Northern Ireland by the Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute (AFBI). Since 2011, published reports cover usage throughout the United Kingdom.
PUS reports are available using the following external links:
