1.1. Contact organisation
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
e-mail: ESTAT-SDG-MONITORING@ec.europa.eu
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
28 March 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
28 March 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
28 March 2025
The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 2 on ending hunger and malnutrition; which is embedded in the European Commission’s 2024-2029 Priorities under 'Sustaining our quality of life: Food security, water and nature'.
SDG 2 - among other things - aims to ensure access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food. Sustainable and resilient food production systems are a key factor in achieving this goal. Along with the promotion of organic farming, integrated pest management (IPM) is one of the tools to emphasise the growth of healthy crop by encouraging natural pest control mechanisms and reducing or minimising risks to human health and the environment.
As a key component of the 'European Green Deal', the EU 'Biodiversity strategy for 2030' aims to reduce by 50% the use and risk of chemical pesticides and the use of more hazardous pesticides, by 2030.
4.1. Data description
The indicator monitors the trends in the use and risk of chemical pesticides in the EU and its Member States. The use of pesticides entails risks and impacts on human health and the environment. The indicator is based on the quantities of chemical active substances contained in the pesticides which are placed on the market (sold), and therefore used, in each Member State, and the hazard properties of these active substances. The data are presented as an index relative to the average results for the period 2015 to 2017.
4.2. Unit of measure
Index 2015-2017 average = 100
4.3. Reference Period
Calendar year
4.4. Accuracy - overall
The underlying statistics on pesticide sales are produced according to the high-level quality standards of European Statistics.
4.5. Source data
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
DG SANTE
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
Data source: Calculation based on the quantities of chemical active substances that are approved as candidates for substitution in accordance with Article 24 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, contained in the plant protection products which are placed on the market in plant protection products each year reported under Regulation (EC) No 1185/2009 under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 and provided according to Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 1185/2009.
Data provider: European Commission, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE)
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every year5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
The indicator is updated annually.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+2 years5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
New data points are disseminated within 2 years after the reference year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
< 75% EU MS or no EU aggregate6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
The EU-27 aggregate refers to all EU Member States. Data at country level are presented for the following 16 EU Member States: Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden.
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
< 75% EU MS6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Comparability is limited to trend analysis as the indicator is expressed as index. Trends can be compared between EU Member States.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
> 10 years6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented time series starts in 2011.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Length of comparable time series without methodological breaks is longer than 4 data points.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
Analysis of indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in an EU context).
7.2. Dissemination format - online database
See table sdg_02_53
7.3. Dissemination format - other
Eurostat dedicated section on SDGs: Eurostat overview.
Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.
