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Food Safety

EU: Trends

Trends in the use and risk of chemical pesticides and the use of more hazardous pesticides

On 15 June 2022, the Commission published updated progress towards Farm to Fork pesticide reduction targets for the period 2011-2020.

EU trends in the use and risk of chemical pesticides

Graph - EU trend in the use and risk of chemical pesticides
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EU trends in the use of more hazardous pesticides

Graph - EU trend in the use of the more hazardous pesticides
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The use and risk of chemical pesticides shows a decrease of 14% from the baseline period of 2015-2017, and a 1% decline compared to 2019.

The use of more hazardous pesticides shows a decrease of 26% from the baseline period of 2015-2017, and a 9% decline compared to 2019.

The results show a continued reduction in the use and risk of chemical pesticides. On the other hand, 2020 marks the second consecutive year with a meaningful reduction in the use of more hazardous pesticides.

While progress is steady and continuous, overall, the results show that Member States need to do more to reduce the use and risk of chemical pesticides as foreseen under the Farm to Fork strategy.