The adoption of a National Action Plan (NAP) for the sustainable use of pesticides for Malta is an obligation of all Member States, set out under the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament. The Directive is transposed into national legislation by Legal Notice 489 of 2011 of the Laws of Malta.
The NAP, which is required to undergo review at least every five years, describes how the measures pursuant to the obligations of the transposed Directive are to be implemented to support the sustainable use of pesticides in Malta. The NAP lists objectives and measures to reduce risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment whilst encouraging the development and introduction of integrated pest management and alternative techniques to reduce the dependency on the use of pesticides.
The proposed reviewed NAP for the sustainable use of pesticides covering the period 2019-2023, expands on the framework of the former NAP to improve the previously set objectives and measures to achieve a better outcome. It takes account of the social, economic and environmental impacts of the previous actions, in addition to the health of the public, with the main aim to generate an efficient tool to support the sustainable use of pesticides in Malta.
The reviewed NAP consists of 6 main area objectives:
Training, Information and Awareness-raising
Controls on Pesticide Application Equipment
Controls on Handling, Storage and Disposal of Plant Protection Products
Controls on the use of Plant Protection Products in Specified Areas
Integrated Pest Management and alternate low pesticide input pest management strategies
Risk Indicators and Data Gathering
Contributions and feedback from interested parties may be sent byemailor in writing to:
Attn. Regulatory Affairs Directorate
Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority Mizzi House, National Road, Blata l-Bajda ĦMR9010, Malta
Closing date for feedback on the consultation has been extended until 24th March 2019.
The revised National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of pesticides in Malta covering the period 2019 – 2023 has been published on the MEAE's page in bothEnglish&Maltese.