Biological pesticides are one element in the suite of tools available for pest and disease control in integrated and organic production systems. Biocontrol methods and agents offer valuable solutions for alternative pest and disease control in many crops. The links provided by countries below contain information about bio-pesticide registration with main focus on policies promoting use of bio-control in IPM systems.

Australia• Belgium • Canada • Denmark • Germany • Estonia • Ireland • Japan • Netherlands • New Zealand • Portugal • Slovenia • Spain • United Kingdom • United States

 

Belgium

The Belgian federal reduction plan for pesticides (FRPB) established a system to promote the registration of biopesticides (www.fytoweb.be). For the biopesticides there is a specific support system for the registration. The registration procedure for biopesticides is shorter than the other products and the communication to producers and farmers is more intense and specific.

 

Canada

Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is responsible for pesticide regulation in Canada, which includes conventional, non-conventional, and microbial agents and products. The PMRA has published specific guidelines (Guidelines for the Registration of Microbial Pest Control Agents and Products) outlining the registration requirements for microbial agents and products, which are described in the regulatory directive below. These guidelines support effective and sustainable pest management and the introduction of new pest management technology; fundamental elements of the PMRA’s overall commitment to reduce risk to humans and the environment. In addition, the guidelines will help enable products that have the potential to contribute to alternative pest management to be considered for registration because the data requirements are specifically developed for these types of products.

The Regulatory Directive DIR2001-02 defines what a microbial pest control agent is, and outlines the requirements for the registration of microbial pest control agents and products proposed for pest management in Canada.

 

Denmark

As part of the fourth pesticide action plan Green Growth from 2010 the government wished to encourage that a greater number of alternative low-risk plant protection products are applied for authorization. As a result applicants can obtain financial support to generate the required trials. The overall purpose is twofold: to improve the framework conditions for ecological growers but also to replace some of the plant protection products that are currently in use in conventional farming with other, less harmful, products.