Jurisdiction(s):
European Union

EU regime for pesticides, plant protection products and biocides: authorisation, labelling, use controls, MRLs, enforcement and criminal liability, with key substance-specific restrictions and recent developments

Published by a LexisNexis EU Law expert

Practice notes

What are pesticides and biocides?

Pesticides and biocides are chemicals or organisms deployed to control pests—unwanted or harmful animals, plants, fungi, viruses, or bacteria that cause damage. The term ‘pesticide’ is frequently used as a substitute for ‘plant protection product’, though it can be broader and may encompass biocidal products. A ‘plant protection product’ refers specifically to pesticides that protect crops or other plants, commonly used in agriculture, forestry, and public and private horticulture. PPPs and biocides can cause serious water pollution and land contamination, especially if they enter surface water or groundwater, and their potential impacts on human health are sometimes questioned.

Plant protection products (PPPs)

PPPs contain at least one ‘active substance’ that counteracts pests or plant diseases and fulfil one or more of the following roles:

protect plants or plant products from pests or diseases, before or after harvest
influence the life processes of plants (for example, substances affecting growth, excluding nutrients)
preserve plant products
destroy, control, or prevent the growth of undesired plants or parts of plants

Active substances can be chemicals, plant extracts, pheromones, or micro-organisms...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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