International code of conduct on pesticide management: guidance on options for reducing risk when phasing out pesticides

This guidance covers different options for banning or phasing out a pesticide and suggests related risk reduction measures to be taken during the phase-out period. A key focus of this guidance is how to take action to manage, prevent, minimize, and communicate about identified risks during the implementation of a phase-out strategy. It contains a description of legal aspects to consider when phasing out a product and illustrates how a risk communication plan can be structured and implemented. How different stakeholders may be involved when a pesticide is going to be phased out is also described. This guidance includes the phase-out of both agricultural and vector control pesticide products that are used in agriculture, for pest control in urban environments, vector control, forestry, food industry, household uses, etc. 

The phase-out process covers different stages of the pesticide life cycle. This guidance identifies targeted phases and activities to which phase-out options apply, such as the import, manufacturing, distribution, and use of pesticides. The phases and activities of each potential phase-out option are linked to different considerations for different stakeholders. When the government regulatory authority makes its final regulatory decision, the decision will include the selected option. Some country examples are provided to serve as illustrations of different strategies and their outcomes.

This guidance has been developed according to the recommendations of the FAO/WHO Joint Meeting on Pesticide Management (JMPM) as a priority document to address the lack of guidance on the process for phasing out hazardous pesticides while reducing the risks to populations and areas where they are used for pest control in agriculture and health. It aims to guide countries on managing those risks during the phase-out period of a pesticide registration or ban, particularly for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and support them in planning, risk management, transparency, and accountability during the phase-out period. The guidance provides examples of case studies from several countries on best practices, promoting a rights-based approach to pesticide management.

This guidance has benefited greatly from the expert advice of the JMPM, which was established in 2007 to provide technical advice to both FAO and WHO and support development of necessary guidance. An initial draft of the document was prepared by a JMPM working group, which was then reviewed and finalized by the larger JMPM group. The Declarations of Interest received from expert members of the JMPM were assessed by the technical unit (NTD/VVE) according to standard WHO procedures. Other external contributors/observer participants (United Nations Environment Programme [UNEP], Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD], international NGOs, and pesticide industry associations) were invited to provide technical comments on the draft document during the peer review process and their participation was limited to the Open sessions of the meeting. The document was finalized in a Closed session of JMPM in which participation was limited to invited experts and FAO/WHO staff, and wherein comments made by the external participants were considered on merit.

This guidance is intended primarily for stakeholders in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with inadequate legislation, compliance, and enforcement, as well as limited resources. It is intended primarily for government authorities in charge of pesticide regulation and management but may also be useful for entities such as the pesticide industry, non-governmental organizations, service providers and consultants in the field involved in organizing or advising on pesticide use. Additional stakeholders likely to be interested in this guidance are other government agencies, environmentalists, and academia.