Step 1 Pesticide Legislation, Regulations & Standards

Compliance with legislation governing all aspects of pesticide use is a key requirement of all Co-operative suppliers. You should have a technical member of your team with specific responsibility to remain up to date with the legal requirements of the UK and those countries from where you purchase produce. You will need to demonstrate that you have access to current information from a recognised source. Suppliers must also conform to the relevant legislation, regulations and standards within the countries they operate

In the UK these include: COPR (Control of Pesticide Regulations) Health and Safety at Work Act COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points.) Requirements to carry out Risk Assessments

Keep up to date: Legislation concerning EU 91/414, the harmonisation of MRL's. Information available from EPPO Sustainable Use of Pesticides. The Co-operative aims to help suppliers by sending email-alerts concerning changes to pesticide legislation, together with the regularly updated noticeboard situated within this programme.

Under no circumstances should a pesticide from the UK, EC, or country specific legislative system, that is not full compliant with legal registration or is listed on the Cooperative Retail prohibited lists, be used. If such controls do not exist, or the supplier to Co-operative Retail has concerns about the mechanism for the control of pesticide use, the supplier must discuss with Co-operative Retail. Co-op Cop 2.1.4 3. Health & Safety...... suppliers must comply with safety legislation including compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations and the need to undertake Risk Assessments. Co-op CoP

FSA Food Standards Agency

ACP Advisory Committee on Pesticides

PSD Pesticides Safety Directorate

Co-op Standards