Plant protection products are pesticides that protect crops or other plants. The total amount of active substances in plant protection products placed on the market in Ireland fell by 16% to 2,274 tonnes in 2023 (See Table 1).
Active substances in herbicides comprised 75% of total active substances in plant protection product sales in 2023 (See Figure 1 and Table 1).
Active substances in fungicides were 18% of total active substances in plant protection product sales in 2023, while active substances in plant growth regulators accounted for 5% of the total (See Figure 1 and Table 1).
Harmonised Risk Indicator 1 (HRI1), which is an index calculated by applying hazard weightings to the active substances in plant protection products, fell by 12% in 2022 to a value of 45, the lowest of the period 2011-2022 (See Figure 2 and Table 2).
HRI1 showed a decrease of 55% in 2022 compared with the base period 2011-2013 (See Figure 2 and Table 2).
Figure 1 shows that the amount of active substances in plant protection products sold in Ireland fell in 2022 (-12%) and 2023 (-16%). Herbicides were the dominant type of product in terms of amounts of active substances each year from 2011 to 2023. In 2023, herbicides made up 75% of total active substances in plant protection products.
Figure 2 shows Harmonised Risk Indicator 1 (HRI1) from 2011 to 2022, the latest year for which data are available. HRI1 is an index which indicates the trend in risks from pesticide use to human health and the environment.
HRI1 is calculated by categorising the active substances into four groups based on the risk associated with each plant protection product, applying a hazard weighting to each group, and setting as a base (equal to 100) the average value for the period 2011-2013. Active substances can be recategorised into different risk groups under EU Regulation.
HRI1 fell by 12% in 2022 to a value of 45, the lowest of the period. This was a decrease of 55% compared with the base period 2011-2013 (See Figure 2 and Table 2). In 2022, the amount of active substances in plant protection product sales also fell by 12%, showing a similar trend to HRI1.
HRI1 is affected by the hazard weightings as well as the amount of active substances. After decreasing in 2016, 2017 and 2018, HRI1 was at its highest of the period in 2019 at 123, rising by 50% while active substances showed a smaller increase of 12%. This can occur if an active substance is no longer approved under EU Regulation and is thus recategorised to the highest risk group. The increased hazard weighting is applied retrospectively for the years in which it was available for use. After a 59% drop in HRI1 in 2020, the value of the index fell to 50, and was 51 in 2021.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (05 March 2025) published Plant Protection Products 2023.
Commenting on the release, Clare O'Hara, Statistician in the Environment Division, 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.
Amount of Active Substances
The amount of active substances in plant protection products sold in Ireland in 2023 was 2,274 tonnes, a decrease of 16% on 2022 and the lowest of the period 2011-2023. It was at its highest level in 2011 at 3,692 tonnes (See Figure 1 and Table 1).
Active Substances by Type of Product
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 pests such as snails and slugs) comprised less than 1% of total active substances in plant protection product sales 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 (See Figure 1 and Table 1).
Harmonised Risk Indicator 1 2022
The release also contains data 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. HRI1 fell by 12% in 2022 to a value of 45, the lowest of the period. This was a reduction of 55% compared with the base period 2011-2013 (See Figure 2 and Table 2).
In 2022, the amount of active substances in plant protection products sold in Ireland also fell by 12%.
HRI1 is calculated by categorising the active substances into groups based on the risk associated with each product, applying a hazard weighting to each group, and setting as a base (equal to 100) the average value for the period 2011-2013."