Active substances in plant protection products fell 16% in 2023
New figures released by the Central Statistics Officer (CSO) have revealed that the total amount of active substances in plant protection products placed on the market in Ireland fell by 16% in 2023.
Active substances in herbicides comprised 75% of total active substances in plant protection product sales in 2023, while fungicides accounted for 18%.
Statistician in the Environment Division of CSO, Clare O'Hara said: "This release contains data on tonnes of active substances contained in plant protection products placed on the market in Ireland from 2011 to 2023.
"Plant protection products are pesticides that protect crops or other plants. They are primarily used in the agricultural sector to aid in the production of arable crops, fodder crops, grassland, vegetables, and fruit, but are also used in forestry, amenity areas, and private gardens."
The amount of active substances in plant protection products sold in Ireland in 2023 was 2,274t, a decrease of 16% on 2022, and the lowest since 2011, when it was 3,692t.
In 2023, active substances in herbicides made up 75% of total active substances in plant protection products.
Active substances in fungicides were 18% of the total in 2023 while active substances in plant growth regulators were 5% of the total.
Active substances in molluscicides (for control of snails and slugs) comprised less than 1% of total active substances in the sales of such products in each year from 2011 to 2023.
Active substances in insecticides made up less than 1% of the total from 2019 to 2023 and less than 2% of the total from 2011 to 2018.
In 2022, the amount of active substances within these products sold in Ireland also fell by 12%.
The CSO data also contains statistics on Harmonised Risk Indicator 1 (HRI1) from 2011 to 2022. HRI1 is an index which indicates the trend in risks from pesticide use to human health and the environment.
It fell by 12% in 2022 to a value of 45, the lowest of the period.
