High pesticide rule breach in Danish Farms

Last year, 4 out of 10 farm inspections in Denmark revealed pesticide regulation breaches, reported by the Ministry of Environment. Pesticides, used to combat weeds and pests or to influence plant growth, pose a concern for the potential to contaminate drinking water, according to the Danish Society for Nature Conservation president, Maria Reumert Gjerding. The uncertainty over whether these pesticides are sprayed on fields calls for political intervention for water safety. Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke agrees the findings are unsatisfactory and calls for attention to this area. Pesticides must be approved and labeled in Danish; possession of foreign-labeled pesticides is illegal. Controls are based on risk assessment and only conducted if non-compliance is suspected. Gjerding emphasizes the importance of strict compliance due to the risk of groundwater contamination and proposes banning pesticides over water reserves.