Additional EU policy instruments for plant protection products

With contributions by: Y.K. van Dam, Marketing & Marketing Research J. Frouws, Sociology M.D.C. Proost, Extension P.C. Struik, Agronomy M. van der Velde, Agrarian Law C. Varela-Ortega, Economia Agraria, Universidad Politicnica, Madrid The Fifth Environmental Action Programme forms the background of a bunch of reports studying pesticide problems in the European Union. This publication, the 'central policy report', is mainly focused on future plant protection policy and integrates the results. Twenty-two instruments, all additional to present policy, have been elaborated in detail. The challenge of the book was to come up with a mix of economically efficient and environmentally effective policy instruments. The large variation in conditions and problems within the European Union justifies different regional approaches. Future plant protection will be characterised by advanced technology and crop management with care for the environment and food safety. Contents Introduction Categorization of instruments Selection of risk management activities Regulation Information, persuasion and awareness Technological and institutional change Arrangements (covenants) Economic instruments Private law instruments Integrating the available information and selecting a mix of instruments Conclusions and recommendations