The Pesticide Control Service

The Pesticide Control Service (PCS) of the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAF) is situated at the Abbotstown Laboratory Complex, Abbotstown, Castleknock, Dublin 15.

PCS is responsible for implementing the regulatory system for

plant protection products (S.I No. 320 of 1981 as amended and S.I. No. 83 of 2003), and
biocidal products (S.I. No. 625 of 2001). (Biocidal products include disinfectants, preservatives, pest control products and antifouling products for use in industry and the home, as well as taxidermist and embalming fluids, etc.). Responsibility for the regulation of biocidal products was assumed in July 2001 and provision is being made to put resources in place to deal with the requirements of the new legislation in this area.

PCS is also responsible for the classification, packaging and labelling of plant protection and biocidal products (S.I. No. 624 of 2001).

Other statutory instruments pertaining to plant protection and biocidal products for which the DAFRD has responsibility include S.I. No. 107 of 2000 (marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations), S.I. No. 361 of 1991 (prohibition on the use of certain substances for agricultural purposes) and S.I. No. 135 of 1985, S.I. No. 185 of 1985 and S.I. No. 88 of 1998 (import and export of certain dangerous chemicals – pesticides).

Legislation regulating the marketing and use of plant protection and biocidal products in Ireland serves to implement relevant EU legislation. The most important EU legal instruments in the field are Directive 79/117/EEC of 21st December 1978 and Directive 91/414/EEC of 15th of July 1991 (regulation of plant protection products), Directive 98/8/EC of 16th February 1998 (regulation of biocidal products) and Directive 1999/45/EC of 31st May 1999 (classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations).

PCS is also responsible for the national Regulations controlling pesticide residues in food (S.I. Nos. 179, 180 and 181 of 1999 and subsequent statutory instruments implementing Directives 76/895/EEC, 86/362/EEC, 86/363/EEC and 90/642/EEC). As part of a service contract with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), PCS implements the national monitoring programme to control pesticide residues in food.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food maintains this website to enhance public access to information about the Department and its activities. Unless otherwise stated reproduction is authorised except for commercial purposes provided the source is acknowledged. The information available from this site is intended as a guide only and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.