What are pesticides and biocides?

Pesticides and biocides are chemicals, natural products or organisms used to control animals, plants, fungi or bacteria which cause damage. Pesticides and biocides include:

  • fungicides
  • insecticides
  • herbicides
  • plant growth regulators
  • rodenticides (rat and mouse poisons)
  • animal and bird repellents
  • mole control products
  • wood and masonry preservatives
  • disinfectants
  • human and veterinary medicines
  • anti-fouling products
  • snail and slug pellets (molluscicides)
  • algaecides.

Pesticides and biocides can cause significant water pollution and land contamination. If they enter surface water or groundwater even in very small amounts, they can have devastating effects.

Water pollution
Land contamination

In this guideline:

What are pesticides and biocides?
What do pesticide and biocide suppliers need to do?
What do pesticide and biocide users need to do?
Approval of pesticides and biocides
Disposing of pesticides and biocides
How to deal with incidents involving pesticides and biocides
Pesticides and biocides further information
Pesticides and biocides legislation