PERCENTAGE-DRIVEN GOVERNMENT MANDATES FOR PESTICIDE REDUCTION - THE SWEDISH MODEL

In 1985, the Swedish government mandated a 50% reduction in agricultur al pesticide use by 1990. The reference point was based on the average of total pesticide sales (kg ai) between 1981 and 1985. The goal was to halve the risks to users and to the environment. A two-pronged appr oach dealing with risk and with the actual reduction in agricultural p esticide use was developed. By 1991, 215 'unsafe' or less effective pe sticide products were withdrawn by producers or cancelled by the Natio nal Chemical Inspectorate, leaving only 322 registered. Additionally, the government was able to report a 47% reduction in agricultural pest icide use where 64, 54, and 2% reductions occurred in insecticides, he rbicides, and fungicides, respectively. However, the treated area did not decrease. Pesticide reduction was achieved largely in cereal grain production by switching from high-dose to low-dose herbicides, reduci ng rates of herbicides, removal of inactive isomers from racemic mixtu res, cancellation of TCA for quackgrass control, increased set-aside, and improved sprayer precision. During the same 5-yr period, Scotland achieved an equivalent reduction without government intervention, indi cating that the reductions were largely due to changing herbicide tech nology. Determining the need for similar programs must take into accou nt: 1. initial use rates (in 1987, average total pesticide use rates i n the U.S. and in Sweden were 1.8 and 1.5 kg ai/ha, respectively, and following the mandate period, Swedish use has decreased to 0.8 kg ai/h a); 2. measurement criteria; and 3. the long-term effect of reducing h erbicide rates on replenishing the soil weed seed bank reserves.