Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E1: Agriculture and fisheries
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
European Commission, Eurostat
L-2920, LUXEMBOURG
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
20 August 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
20 August 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
20 August 2025
3.1. Data description
Harmonised risk indicators are established in order to measure the progress achieved in meeting the objectives of the Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides.
The data set shows the values of the Harmonised risk indicator 1 (HRI 1 - hereafter referred to as ‘the Harmonised risk indicator’), established in Commission Directive (EU) 2019/782 of 15 May 2019, amending Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the establishment of harmonised risk indicators. The indicator is presented as indices relative to a baseline of 100 (see section 3.9).
The Harmonised risk indicator is based on statistics on the quantity of active substances in plant protection products placed on the market under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, provided to Eurostat according to Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 1185/2009. Those data are categorised into 4 risk groups and multiplied by hazard weightings established in Commission Directive (EU) 2019/782. The results of the calculations are then aggregated.
The Member States and the Commission shall calculate and publish the Harmonised risk indicator in accordance with Articles 15(2) and 15(4) of Directive 2009/128/EC for each calendar year. The results of the calculations are available at the latest 20 months after the reference year.
Eurostat calculates the EU-level indicator. Eurostat also calculates the national Harmonised risk indicator on behalf of Member States as a service. Member States make the information available to the public before 30 August each year.
3.2. Classification system
The Harmonised risk indicator is based on the categories of active substances and hazard weightings defined for this purpose in the Annex of Commission Directive (EU) 2019/782.
3.3. Coverage - sector
The Harmonised risk indicator is based on statistics on active substances used in plant protection products placed on the market in the EU Member States.
This indicator is calculated by taking into account chemical and non-chemical substances (including micro-biological substances), and by including confidential and non-confidential data.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Statistics on the plant protection products placed on the market annually since 2011 in the EU Member States and other reporting countries are disseminated in the dataset ‘Pesticide sales’ (aei_fm_salpest09). The explanatory text (metadata) attached to this dataset lists the underlying specificities of the data.
3.5. Statistical unit
Not applicable.
3.6. Statistical population
Not applicable.
3.7. Reference area
EU Member States and the United Kingdom.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Reference year 2011 onwards for EU Member States, and from reference years 2011 to 2019 for the United Kingdom.
3.9. Base period
The Harmonised risk indicator is presented as an index.
The baseline is set to 100. The baseline defined in Commission Directive (EU) 2019/782 is equal to the average result of the calculation described in section 3.1 for the period 2011-2013.
The Harmonised risk indicator is presented as an index relative to a baseline of 100.
Calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The underlying statistics on pesticide sales are validated according to the quality framework for the Pesticides sales data collection.
The tool for calculating the Harmonised risk indicator is publicly available on CIRCABC folder, together with the methodological guidelines (section 10.6).
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The quality management is adequate for what concerns the indicator calculations.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The main users are the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), the Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV), the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI), the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC), that need the indicator for policy monitoring.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The Harmonised risk indicator has been established through a Commission Directive and is deemed to meet the user needs satisfactorily, taking into consideration the availability of EU harmonised datasets.
12.3. Completeness
The completeness is 100%.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Not applicable.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Data are published at the latest 20 months after the end of the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Comparability is limited to trend analysis as the indicators are expressed as indices. The trends can be compared between geographies.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The trend of the indicator can be compared over time.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
No other comparable data are published on EU level.
All reported errors (once validated) result in corrections of the disseminated data.
Reported errors are corrected in the disseminated data as soon as the correct data have been validated.
Data are only published once they are deemed to be sufficiently complete for all data providers.
New data are only used to update disseminated data if provided according to the provision schedule set by Eurostat, or in the case of reported errors.
18.1. Source data
The data sources for Harmonised risk indicator are statistics on the placing on the market of active substances contained in plant protection products, collected by Eurostat under Regulation (EC) No 1185/2009.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annually.
18.3. Data collection
Eurostat calculates the Harmonised risk indicator for the EU, and as a service for the Member States.
18.4. Data validation
The calculated risk indicators on EU level are validated by Eurostat.
The calculated risk indicators on national level are considered validated when made publicly available by Member States or, failing that, after expiry of the legal period of 20 months after the reference year before which Member States are obliged to publish their results.
18.5. Data compilation
The indices are calculated by multiplying the annual quantities of active substances placed on the market for each Group defined in the Annex of Commission Directive (EU) 2019/782 by hazard weightings, followed by aggregation of the results of these calculations. The baseline is set to 100 and is equal to the average result of the above calculation for the period 2011-2013.
Harmonised risk indicators are established in order to measure the progress achieved in meeting the objectives of the Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides.
The data set shows the values of the Harmonised risk indicator 1 (HRI 1 - hereafter referred to as ‘the Harmonised risk indicator’), established in Commission Directive (EU) 2019/782 of 15 May 2019, amending Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the establishment of harmonised risk indicators. The indicator is presented as indices relative to a baseline of 100 (see section 3.9).
The Harmonised risk indicator is based on statistics on the quantity of active substances in plant protection products placed on the market under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, provided to Eurostat according to Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 1185/2009. Those data are categorised into 4 risk groups and multiplied by hazard weightings established in Commission Directive (EU) 2019/782. The results of the calculations are then aggregated.
The Member States and the Commission shall calculate and publish the Harmonised risk indicator in accordance with Articles 15(2) and 15(4) of Directive 2009/128/EC for each calendar year. The results of the calculations are available at the latest 20 months after the reference year.
Eurostat calculates the EU-level indicator. Eurostat also calculates the national Harmonised risk indicator on behalf of Member States as a service. Member States make the information available to the public before 30 August each year.
20 August 2025
Statistics on the plant protection products placed on the market annually since 2011 in the EU Member States and other reporting countries are disseminated in the dataset ‘Pesticide sales’ (aei_fm_salpest09). The explanatory text (metadata) attached to this dataset lists the underlying specificities of the data.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
EU Member States and the United Kingdom.
Calendar year.
Not applicable.
The Harmonised risk indicator is presented as an index relative to a baseline of 100.
The indices are calculated by multiplying the annual quantities of active substances placed on the market for each Group defined in the Annex of Commission Directive (EU) 2019/782 by hazard weightings, followed by aggregation of the results of these calculations. The baseline is set to 100 and is equal to the average result of the above calculation for the period 2011-2013.
The data sources for Harmonised risk indicator are statistics on the placing on the market of active substances contained in plant protection products, collected by Eurostat under Regulation (EC) No 1185/2009.
Annually.
Data are published at the latest 20 months after the end of the reference year.
Comparability is limited to trend analysis as the indicators are expressed as indices. The trends can be compared between geographies.
The trend of the indicator can be compared over time.
