Regulatory Developments in GB and NI
Regulatory Developments in GB and NI
On Thursday December 4th, 2025, Kerona Scientific held its 6th Virtual Dublin Plant Protection Symposium. This annual event serves as a platform to delve into critical issues within the EU and GB/NI landscapes, drawing insights from key stakeholders in the plant protection industry. Among the various speakers, Dr Matthew Penrose (Head of the Unit responsible for delivering authorisations for plant protection products) from the Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD) in the UK offered a very detailed insight in the regulatory developments in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
A crucial development is the Regulatory Action Plan; the PPP National Action Plan (NAP) of 2025 sets out the strategy for managing pesticide use and minimising risk. It reflects the priorities and ambitions of all 4 governments in the UK and aims to promote the sustainable use of pesticides to minimise impacts on the environment and human health, whilst managing pests and pesticide resistance effectively and ensuring farmers have the tools, needed for food production.
This NAP aims to encourage the development and uptake of integrated pest management (IPM) and alternative approaches or techniques to reduce dependency on the use of pesticides. The NAP also aims to establish timetables and targets for the reduction of the risks and impacts of pesticide use, including setting targets for the reduction of use of pesticides containing active substances of particular concern. Finally, the NAP intends to ensure storage, handling, cleaning and disposal operations do not endanger human health or the environment through effective inspection, enforcement and other official control activities
Dr. Penrose also highlighted the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement which aims to create a common SPS area that would significantly reduce trade friction relating to animals, plants and agri-food products by allowing most movements between Great Britain and the EU to occur without the current certificates or routine border checks, cutting paperwork, costs and delays for businesses. The agreement is intended to align UK rules with EU sanitary and phytosanitary standards across food safety, animal and plant health, consumer protection, organics and marketing standards, and extend benefits to movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland through the Windsor Framework.
If you missed the Dublin Plant Protection Symposium, please contact Kerona if you wish to obtain a copy of the presentations. For assistance with the Regulation of PPP in the EU and UK the Kerona Regulatory team can be contacted at info@kerona.ie