Ecophyto Plan II.

This Ecophyto Plan II is a nationwide sectoral document, developed under application of the European Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides (2009/128), that reviews the Ecophyto Plan I of 2008, and aims to continue the path taken with Plan I by keeping on reducing the use of plant protection products and the risks and impacts relating to that use, while continuing to ensure high-quality and high-yield production and good economic and technical performance. The overall goal of the new version of the plan is a renewal of the 50% reduction in the use of plant protection products under a two-phase timeframe (i) the first phase aims for a 25% reduction by 2020 through mainstreaming and optimising currently available techniques; and (ii) the second phase aims for a 50% reduction by 2025. Ecophyto II also aims at (i) supporting local authorities and other public stakeholders, as well as amateur gardeners, in applying the use restrictions prescribed by law; (ii) promoting the development of collective dynamics and sectors and supporting professional investment in high-performance agricultural equipment; and (iii) aligning all public policies that, whether directly or indirectly, serve as drivers in fulfilling the objective to reduce the dependence of production systems on plant protection products.