This page gives
some information
on what pesticides
are and why they
are used. This information
was obtained from
the Health and Safety
Executive,
Chemical Regulations
Directive for Pesticides
website, (date
accessed 9th February
2011).
What are pesticides?
'Pesticide' is
a broad term, covering
a range of products
that are used to
control pests. The
slug pellets, ant
powder, weed killers,
and rat and mouse
baits that you may
use in your everyday
life are all pesticides.
Other pesticides
you may have heard
of include:
- insect killers
(insecticides)
- mould and
fungi killers
(fungicides)
- weedkillers
(herbicides)
- slug pellets
(molluscicides)
- plant growth
regulators
- bird and
animal repellents,
and
- rat and
mouse killers
(rodenticides)
Often people
only think of pesticides
as chemicals, but
they include a very
large range of different
types of products.
Some are natural
(eg, pyrethrums,
obtained from chrysanthemums),
while many are altered
versions of natural
chemicals.
Why do we need
pesticides?
Today's modern
agriculture produces
plentiful food,
at a reasonable
price, all year
round. Most of us
take it for granted
that we can buy
whatever food we
want, whenever we
want. We rightly
expect our food
to be safe and nutritious
and we have also
become used to food,
particularly fruit
and vegetables,
not having any blemishes
or other marks.
We don’t tend to
think about how
farmers produce
food or how it gets
from the farm to
the shops in "perfect"
condition.
Over the last
60 years farmers
and growers have
changed the way
they produce food
in order to meet
the expectations
of consumers, supermarkets
and Governments.
In doing so they
have made many changes
to the way they
farm. This often
includes the use
of pesticides.
Farmers use pesticides
to:
- protect
crops from insect
pests, weeds
and fungal diseases
while they are
growing
- prevent
rats, mice,
flies and other
insects from
contaminating
foods whilst
they are being
stored
- safeguard
human health,
by stopping
food crops being
contaminated
by fungi
However, as pesticides
are used to kill
unwanted pests,
weeds and moulds,
they can also harm
people, wildlife
and the environment.
This is why there
are strict controls
in place over their
sale and use. It
is up to everyone
who is involved
with pesticides,
whether they are
farmers, professional
growers or gardeners,
to ensure that they
are used safely
and effectively.
It is worth remembering
that today’s pesticides
have been designed
so that as little
as possible is needed
and then only as
a last resort (farmers
use about a third
less chemicals today
than they did in
1983).
The law requires
that only pesticides
approved by Ministers
shall be sold, supplied,
used, stored or
advertised. Farmers
and growers are
required by law
to take all reasonable
precautions when
using pesticides
to protect the health
of human beings,
creatures and the
environment.