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Sales of pesticides for agricultural use in the Netherlands, 1985-2002

There has been a downward trend for all the main categories of pesticides in recent years, among other things as a result of various bans on the use of those agents.

 1985199019951999200020012002
  
 1,000 kg active ingredient
Total21 00318 83710 92210 2329 6447 8668 072
  
Insecticides 634731495338260227186
Carbamates749311382687446
Organophosphates3034472531591419080
includingdichlorvos738410010
 dimethoate32795734433033
 parathion-ethyl11010747328106
 
Fungicides4 3634 1433 9914 5644 4603 6283 582
Captan and related compounds606434709506380402481
Dithiocarbamates2 4532 4362 0262 3142 2421 9641 002
among whichmancozeb..8881 5531 6071 386174
 maneb1 9911 38386147233827964
Nitro compounds1919160191237222266
Pyrimidine compounds388232149101099
Carbamates..6624129562432
 
Herbicides 3 9783 4673 0702 8422 6052 1712 171
Dinitroalkylphenols61538015115000
Phenoxy carbon acids756708414332398307342
Triazines and triazinones630499412347288244202
Ureum compounds306378349290230163181
Amino phosphonates 1)..344571613509439
 
Soil Disinfectants 10 7848 9372 3741 4681 4029851 200
 
Other1 2441 5599921 0201 087854890
Mineral oil9311 237764814748644667
        
Source: Nefyto.CBS/EDC/May03/0015
1) Included in 1985 and 1990 under other herbicides.

Sales of pesticides


There has been a sharp fall in all the main categories of pesticides in recent years, among other things as a result of various bans on the use of those agents.
In the case of potatoes, there was a fall in the sales of carbamates as fungicides. There was a lot of debate in 2001 about the approval of one of the active substances. Potato growers have possibly switched to another agent because the one in question was no longer available.
Environmental organisations have objected to the use of some fungicides (maneb and mancozeb) during the course of 2002. This resulted in the withdrawal of these agents. It should be pointed out that the College voor de toelating van Bestrijdingsmiddelen (Pesticides Approval Committee) granted approval again with effect from 24 January 2003 after new directions for use had been submitted.

Technical note


The sales figures do not provide a good picture of the precise scale of use but are suitable for deriving information on developments.

The Dutch Association for Phytopharmacy (Nefyto) registers data from its members. In recent years these data have covered approximately 85% of the total sales of agricultural pesticides. The figures include sales to private individuals and applications in public green spaces. Rough estimates indicate that these types of use are less than 5% of Nefyto's sales and are mainly in the form of herbicides.

References


  • Nefyto (2003). Nefyto. Gewasbescherming in cijfers. Dutch Association for Phytopharmacy, The Hague.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium


Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium


  • More data about the sales of pesticides, artificial and organic fertilisers can be obtained from Nefyto. Nefyto (the Dutch Association for Phytopharmacy) is the trade organisation of the Dutch pesticides industry. The companies affiliated to the Dutch Association for Phytopharmacy market plant protection products in the Netherlands.
This page was last changed on November 25, 2005  (version 01).