S.L. 430.8 Art. 3National Action Plans. S.L. 430.01 S.L. 430.07 S.L. 423.20 S.L. 504.69

(1) (a) The Director shall adopt a National Action Plan to set up the quantitative objectives, targets, measures and timetables to reduce risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment and to encourage the development and introduction of integrated pest management and of alternative approaches or techniques in order to reduce dependency on the use of pesticides. These targets may cover different areas of concern, for example worker protection, protection of the environment, residues, use of specific techniques or use in specific crops.

(b) The National Action Plan shall also include indicators to monitor the use of plant protection products containing active substances of particular concern, especially if alternatives are available. The Director shall give particular attention to the plant protection products containing active substances approved in accordance with the Plant Protection Products

Regulations which, when subject to renewal of approval under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 as implemented by the Plant Protection Products

(Implementation) Regulations, will not fulfil the criteria relevant for approval laid down in Annex II, points 3.6 to 3.8 of that Regulation.

(c) On the basis of such indicators and taking into account where applicable the risk or use reduction targets achieved already prior to the application of these regulations, timetables and targets for the reduction of use shall also be established, in particular if the reduction of use constitutes an appropriate means to achieve risk reduction with regard to priority items identified under regulation 14(2)(c). These targets may be intermediate or final. The Director shall use all necessary means designed to achieve these targets.

(d) When drawing up and revising the National Action Plan, the Director shall take account of the health, social, economic and environmental impacts of the measures envisaged, of specific national, regional and local conditions and all relevant stakeholder groups. The Director shall describe in the National Action Plans how measures pursuant to regulations 4 to 14 will be implemented in order to achieve the objectives referred to in paragraph (a). The National Action Plan shall take into account plans under other regulations on the use of pesticides, such as planned measures under the Water Policy Framework Regulations.

(2) By 26 November 2012, the Director shall communicate Malta’s National Action Plan to the Commission and to other Member States. The National Action Plan shall be reviewed at least every five years and any substantial changes to National Action Plan shall be reported to the Commission without undue delay.

(3) The provisions on public participation laid down in the Plans and Programmes (Public Participation) Regulations shall apply to the preparation and the modification of the National Action Plans.