Study supporting the evaluation of Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides and impact assessment of its possible revision : final evaluation report

The European Commission is undertaking a back-to-back evaluation of Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides (SUD) and impact assessment of its possible revision. This study, by Ramboll Management Consulting and Arcadia International, presents an analytically robust evaluation, assessing the Directive against the key evaluation criteria of effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence and EU added value. It covers the period from 2011 to 2020 across the 27 EU Member States plus the UK. Evidence from qualitative and quantitative data collection shows that the SUD has likely contributed to reducing the risk of using pesticides to human health and the environment, however it is not possible to establish the extent to which the Directive has had a direct contribution on reducing the risk of pesticide use. Member States were found to have made efforts to implement the provisions of the Directive, however specific provisions lacked implementation such as the quality and level of ambition of NAPs and little control and enforcement of IPM. However, the objectives and concept of the SUD were found to have provided added value by creating a common, harmonised framework for the sustainable use of pesticides and raising awareness.