International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management. Guidance on pesticide licensing schemes

Overview

This guidance sets out and discusses national pesticide licensing schemes. Building on the FAO/WHO Guidelines on pesticide legislation (FAO/WHO, 2020a) and on the 10 principles set in the FAO guidelines on compliance and enforcement of a pesticide regulatory programme (FAO, 2006), it provides more detailed, more specific guidance on licensing. This document is intended to provide concrete guidance and options for countries wishing to establish or strengthen their programmes for licensing of activities associated with pesticides, including import, storage, distribution, sale and specific uses.

The guidance covers pesticides used in agriculture and public health (e.g. for vector control) and also pesticides for household use (FAO/WHO, 2020b) and for industrial use.

The guidance

• provides an overview of pesticide licensing schemes;
• describes the regulatory framework for pesticide licensing;
• outlines the elements of licensing programmes for various pesticide-related activities; and
• provides short examples of features of pesticide licensing schemes around the world.

Throughout the document, “examples from current practice” are given. The examples were collected at the time of writing the guidance, and the reader is invited to ensure with national authorities that the information is still accurate and up to date.