What are our responsibilities?
The Pesticide Controls Division (PCD)
The Pesticide Controls Division is responsible for implementing the regulatory system for plant protection and biocidal products. PCD is also responsible for the national regulations controlling pesticide use. All of our regulatory work is based on scientific evidence to ensure that controls on the sale, supply and use of pesticides are effective.
The Pesticide Registration Division (PRD)
The Pesticide Registration Division (PRD) is made up of five expert units consisting of the Chemistry Unit, Ecotoxicology Unit, Efficacy Unit, Environmental Fate & Behaviour Unit and the Toxicology Unit. The expert units are made up of Agricultural Scientists, Biologists, Micro-biologists, Chemists, Ecotoxicologists and Toxicologists.
Our scientists evaluate pesticides with respect to their impact on human and animal health and the environment, to ensure that they are safe for use.
Pesticide Control Laboratory (PCL)
In the Pesticide Control Laboratory, our scientists monitor pesticide residues in food and feed to ensure that food on the Irish market is safe to eat and complies with pesticide residue legislation. PCL analyses for pesticide residues in fruit, vegetables, cereals, animal fat, milk and other dairy products, eggs, honey, infant formula, processed food (including wine, juices, tinned foods and oils) and feed.
If residues detected in food are considered to be harmful to the consumer, the produce is removed from the market and may be destroyed if necessary. The protection of the consumer is the primary aim of all monitoring activities.
The Environment
Pesticide residues in the environment are monitored at Member State level. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carries out routine monitoring of streams, lakes and rivers across Ireland. If elevated levels of a pesticide are detected, we work closely with the EPA in order to determine any risk to wildlife and to drinking water supplies. We cooperate with them to devise strategies to remove the risk while simultaneously investigating where the exceedance originated and how to prevent any recurrence.
Specialist Areas