Biopesticides are a type of Plant Protection Product (PPP) representing a diverse group of products, classified into four categories in the UK.
- Pheromones and other semiochemicals
- Microbials, for example a bacterium, fungus, protozoa, virus or viroid
- Products based on Plant Extracts
- Other novel alternative products
Biopesticides are playing an increasingly important role in Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and our CropLife UK members are actively investing in research and development in this area to bring new products to market. The increased use of biopesticides is supported by UK governments, with explicit references to them in the UK National Action Plan. In the UK, the principal issues relate to regulatory processes and unnecessary data requirements, which can delay the approval and commercialisation of biopesticides. The UK regulator needs to improve their delivery of the regulatory framework to enable growers to access these vital crop protection tools.
CropLife UK advocates for the regulator to take an enabling, pragmatic and proportionate approach to the regulation of biopesticides.