On Friday 21st March 2025, the Government finally published the long overdue National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides (NAP). This is a key document that should set out policy in numerous areas that we have campaigned for via the Pesticide Collaboration
We are pleased to see the inclusion of the UK’s first ever pesticide reduction target of 10%. While we had hoped for a higher percentage , the adoption of a target which takes into account both how much of a pesticide is used and how toxic it is a clear signal that reducing pesticide-related harms to the environment is now being taken seriously.
We are also pleased that there are commitments to increasing the uptake of non-chemical alternatives by farmers and urge the government to provide them with the support they need. While there are no commitments to phasing out urban pesticide use, we have been assured by the government that this area of work will be progressed separately.
We look forward to working with Minister Hardy to build on the promises made in the National Action Plan and increase the ambition of these significant policy shifts.
