Application of direct control measures to kill the pests, diseases or weeds in a way that has minimum residual effect to the ecosystem

Direct measures to control diseases and pests are used if preventive measures did not give a satisfactory result. To decide if suppression is needed and to set time limits, it is necessary to establish a system of monitoring environmental conditions for forecasting the development of diseases and pests, monitoring the population of pests and their natural enemies, the appearance of disease symptoms and knowing the thresholds of economic damage. For successful monitoring, it is necessary to be familiar with the biology of pests and the symptoms they cause on plants. Direct measures aim to reduce the population below the critical number with as little negative impact on the ecosystem as possible. These include physical measures (collection of insects, weeding, burning, hoeing, mowing, tillage) and the use of products of different origins that enhance the resistance of plants and ecosystems, while they act to the environment, natural enemies and other organisms with a low risk. Botanical pesticides, biopesticides, pheromones, mineral-based preparations, etc., are the most used products, whose application is permitted by regulations on organic farming.

Protection against diseases and pests in organic farming defined by Regulation (EU) 834/2007, which will be replaced by Regulation (EU) 848/2018 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the 1st of January 2022. In addition to the basic principles of pest protection, which relies primarily on the previously described preventive measures, the regulation also controls the approval of products and active substances used in plant protection products.

Products whose use is crucial for the control of a harmful organism for which there are no alternative biological, physical or growing solutions, cultivating practices or other effective management procedures are approved to use. These products and substances originate from plants, algae, animals, microbes or minerals. Exceptionally, other products may be approved if their use is crucial for the control of a harmful organism for which there are no alternative biological, physical or growing solutions, growing practices or other effective management procedures. When using such products, the required waiting periods must be kept after contact with edible parts of the crop. Plant protection products used in organic farming must be registered or permitted in accordance with the abovementioned regulation.