UK: New Integrated Pest Management Plan launched
Under the Sustainable Use Directive there is a requirement for Member States to encourage the uptake of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The European Commission defines this as economically and environmentally sustainable management of pests, weeds and diseases using cultural, chemical, physical and biological controls.
UK regulators have recognised that farmers carry out a wide range of these practices already and so have agreed that a voluntary approach to demonstrating their use of IPM is appropriate, as opposed to regulatory approaches taken by other European member states. To satisfy this requirement the NFU have developed the new IPM plan for the VI, this replaces, the original VI Crop Protection Management Plan (CPMP). Another option for farmers is to use the LEAF audit.
The new IPM Plan (IPMP) can be accessed at www.voluntaryinitiative.org.uk/ipmp
Source: hdc.org.uk
