Confederation of European Pest Management Associations
CEPA
CEPA’s mission is to act as the voice of the Pest Management Industry vis à vis all relevant stakeholders.
ID: 047672912315-09
Lobbying Activity
Response to Sustainable use of pesticides – revision of the EU rules
5 Aug 2020
CEPA’s expertise can make further progress by contributing to the strategy’s objectives, particularly towards the recognition of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Europe.
CEPA is a hub of expertise on IPM using its resources and network to promote IPM standards in the member states. CEPA represents 80 national associations and international companies along the whole pest management chain, in 23 European countries covering a workforce of around 40,000 pest management professionals all across the Union. Thanks to our members’ experience, data and know-how we can contribute towards fulfilling the sustainable use of pesticides’ (the SUD) requirements stated in the adopted National Action Plans from a bottom-up approach.
From the perspective of professional trained pest managers, expansive recognition of IPM throughout the chemical strategy is required. As a common denominator throughout the whole food supply chain the importance of IPM has been recognised in relation to the SUD Directive and the Farm-to-Fork strategy, but their relevance must continue to be stressed.
It is surprising however that IPM's applicability outside of agriculture is not highlighted in the strategy despite being of strong relevance to the urban environment and across the food supply chain in storage, processing and distribution. We see IPM as a necessity going forward, in the agricultural sector, but in the urban sector as well.
The pest management sector is largely unregulated outside of their remit as biocide users. The setting of IPM standards for the training and education of pest managers will ensure the most effective and sustainable pest management methods are used throughout the EU, protecting the environment, biodiversity and the health of citizens. However, professionalisation of the sector at the European level is absolutely key to ensure this necessary transition.
Furthermore, CEPA has already established a CEN standard (EN16636) setting the industry leading practices in IPM, which currently certifies over a thousand operators across the EU. In order to promote IPM more widely in Europe, CEPA is currently collecting signatures to its Memorandum of Understanding on IPM, which intends to transform the way pest management is being carried across the EU, promoting more sustainable solutions where possible.
With little awareness across the Member States of the potential for IPM outside of the agricultural context, the Commission can lead the way in demonstrating that there is an opportunity there. The opportunity to begin this is now, and IPM must be supported through the revised SUD.
CEPA sees the potential for the pest management sector to contribute to sustainability in urban and rural environments, and will continue to advance the promotion of IPM and the SUD in the pest management sector.
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