Pest and Pesticide Management

The International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management

The International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management (the Code of Conduct) serves as a voluntary framework on pesticide management for all public and private entities engaged in, or associated with, production, regulation and management of pesticides. It has been endorsed by FAO Members, and is supported by key pesticide industry associations and civil society organizations. It serves to strengthen the capacity of developing countries to regulate, evaluate and enforce effective control over pesticides, which are traded and used in their territories.

The Code of Conduct guides government regulators, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders on best practices in managing pesticides throughout their lifecycle – from production to disposal –, particularly where there is inadequate or no national legislation to regulate pesticides. It is designed to be used within national legislation and describes:

  • the shared responsibility of many sectors;
  • the need for a cooperative effort;
  • the need to strengthen capacity for its implementation;
  • the standards of conduct for pesticide management, complementing the legally binding instruments on chemical management.

Technical guidelines and guidance have been issued to elaborate specific articles of the Code of Conduct and related technical aspects of pesticide management. These guidelines, developed by the FAO/WHO Joint Meeting on Pesticide Management (JMPM), provide a framework to establish or strengthen national legislation, institutions, policies and strategies for pest and pesticide management. The guidelines also constitute an important contribution towards the work of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).

A compendium of FAO and WHO guidelines and other resources - Second edition
(also available in French, Spanish and Arabic)