Plant protection products in Croatia and the environment

The damage caused to Croatian agriculture by pests, plant diseases and weeds is estimated to be USD 500 millions each year. In the year 2001, 669 PPP based on 271 active ingredients (ais) were registered in Croatia. The use of PPP per hectare has decreased by 40 % since 1995, mainly due to a bad economic situation, and not for ecological reasons as occurred in the EU. New, highly active PPP used in very small dosage rates has contributed to this decrease also. The consumption of ais per hectare in Croatia is about twice lower than the average consumption in the EU. Significant residues of PPP were established in Croatia in the air, soil and water. Therefore an estimation of this ecological damage should be included in each cost/benefit calculation of a plant protection measure. For this purpose an average ecological factor (1.3 - 2.5) is proposed. New biotechnical and biological PPP are generally safer for the environment, especially when used by new localised methods. In the U.S., the transgenic plants producing the insecticidal toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis are classified in the group of bioinsecticides land are considered to decrease the ecological impact of chemical insecticides. In spite of this, B.t. plants should be used according to the preventive principle of maximum safety and follow the procedures provided by the EU and member states.