Resources:
Responsible Pesticide Use
Building Safer, Sustainable Crop Protection
Farmers across Southeast Asia work hard every day to grow the food that feeds our region. As pests and diseases change and pressure on crops increases, many farmers rely on pesticides to protect their harvests. But using too many chemicals, or using the wrong ones, can make farming more expensive, less effective, and sometimes unsafe for people and the environment.
Responsible pesticide use is about supporting farmers, not restricting them. It means giving farmers the right information, safer options, and practical tools to make good decisions in the field. With better training, clearer guidance, and access to new IPM and biocontrol solutions, farmers can protect their crops more effectively while reducing unnecessary and harmful chemical use.
Guiding Principles for Responsible Use
An excellent resource is the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management (by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and World Health Organisation (WHO). It outlines responsibilities for governments, industry, distributors, and users (including farmers). It is voluntary but widely used by countries, donors, and the private sector as the guiding framework for pesticide safety.
Key Principles
1. Reduce Risks & Protect Health
Minimise risks to farmers, consumers, and the environment across the entire pesticide life cycle.
2. Promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Encourage non-chemical methods first and use pesticides only when necessary, based on monitoring and thresholds.
3. Avoid Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs)
Phase out pesticides that pose unacceptable risks or cannot be managed safely under local conditions.
4. Strengthen Regulation & Enforcement
Ensure pesticides are properly registered, labelled, monitored, and controlled with transparent national systems.
5. Ensure Proper Distribution & Storage
Retailers and distributors must provide correct information, only sell legal products, and all stakeholders must store them safely.
6. Ensure Safe Use & Good Practices
Users must follow label directions, use PPE, calibrate equipment, and avoid misuse or overapplication.
7. Protect the Environment
Prevent contamination of water, soil, and biodiversity; minimise drift and improper disposal.
8. Train & Build Capacity
All actors must be trained on safe use, handling, emergency response, and IPM.
9. Clear Responsibilities Across the Value Chain
Everyone has a role to play: Governments regulate, industry ensures safe products, and farmers apply safely and responsibly.
Southeast Asia Resources
Want to catch up on a selection of resources from across our region?
Regional Overviews & Use Patterns
A scoping review of agrochemical use in Southeast Asia: implications to health, socioeconomic, knowledge, interventions, and policies aspects. Download here
N. C. Thanh and F. Unger. 2025. A scoping review of agrochemical use in Southeast Asia: implications to health, socioeconomic, knowledge, interventions, and policies aspects. Report. Nairobi, Kenya: International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
Safe and sustainable crop protection in Southeast Asia: status, challenges and policy options (Food Policy, 2015). Examines pesticide use and regulation in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos; links economic incentives, regulation and farmer behaviour. Download here
Schreinemachers, P., Afari-Sefa, V., Heng, C. H., Dung, P. T. M., Praneetvatakul, S., & Srinivasan, R. (2015). Safe and sustainable crop protection in Southeast Asia: status, challenges and policy options. Environmental Science & Policy, 54, 357-366.
Household pesticide use in Southeast Asia: a comparative survey of knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia Download here
Mitoriana Porusia, Duangruedee Chotklang, Siti Rohana Mohd Yatim, Salsabila Purnamasari, Dinda Safitri Ramadhani, Paramitha Cahyani, Khansa Nuriashinta Nabila, Afifah Zakiyatul Aulia, Aida Syafinaz Mokhtar, Van Lun Low, Norhidayu Sahimin, Household pesticide use in Southeast Asia: a comparative survey of knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, Journal of Integrated Pest Management, Volume 16, Issue 1, 2025, pmaf039, https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmaf039
Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) & Risk
Status of HHPs and their mitigation in Asia – national survey across 13 Asian countries. Download here
GC, Y.D., Palikhe, B.R., Gu, B. and Beatrice, G. (2022) Status of Highly Hazardous Pesticides and Their Mitigation Measures in Asia. Advances in Entomology, 10, 14-33. https://doi.org/10.4236/ae.2022.101002
Pesticide residue impacts in South and Southeast Asia ( PAN Asia Pacific Report, 2025)
Civil-society report documenting health and environmental impacts of pesticide residues in Bangladesh, India, Laos and Vietnam. Download here
The Global Threat from Highly Hazardous Pesticides (IPAN)
An overview of the global spread and dangers of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) but with some Southeast Asia coverage.
🔗 https://ipen.org/documents/global-threat-highly-hazardous-pesticides
Regulation, Residues & Monitoring
Guidance for harmonizing pesticide regulatory systems in Southeast Asia (FAO) (2012) – support manual for regulatory harmonisation. Download here
FAO RAP (2012) Guidance for harmonizing pesticide regulatory systems in Southeast Asia (FAO) (2012) – support manual for regulatory harmonisation.
Advancement of pesticide regulatory management in Asia. (2013). Download here
FAO RAP (2013). Advancement of pesticide regulatory management in Asia.
Pesticide monitoring programme in the ASEAN region – FAO report (2021). Download here
FAO. 2021. Pesticide monitoring programme in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Situation analysis report. Bangkok.
Regional Guide to Develop and Strengthen National Pesticide Residue Monitoring Programmes in ASEAN Member States (ASEAN/FAO 2023). Practical guide developed under ASEAN Health Cluster 4; provides a framework for residue sampling, analysis and risk communication.
Country Case Studies – Health, Exposure & Practices
Pesticide Use in Thailand: Current Situation, Health Risks, and Regulation
A detailed analysis of pesticide use patterns, regulatory context, and farmer health/environmental risks in Thailand.
Laohaudomchok W, Nankongnab N, Siriruttanapruk S, Klaimala P, Lianchamroon W, Ousap P, Jatiket M, Kajitvichyanukul P, Kitana N, Siriwong W, Hemachudhah T, Satayavivad J, Robson M, Jaacks L, Barr DB, Kongtip P, Woskie S. Pesticide use in Thailand: Current situation, health risks, and gaps in research and policy. Hum Ecol Risk Assess. 2021;27(5):1147-1169. doi: 10.1080/10807039.2020.1808777. Epub 2020 Aug 27. PMID: 34290491; PMCID: PMC8291370.
🔗 Read at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8291370/
Pesticide Use and Health Impacts on Farmers in Thailand, Vietnam and Lao PDR
Hughes, D. et al., PLoS ONE, 2021
A multi-country study combining surveys and biological monitoring (AChE) to assess farmer exposure and poisoning symptoms.
🔗 Read at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8483351/
Pesticide Use in Rice Production in Cambodia
Ngang, L. et al., Cahiers Agricultures, 2025
A large survey of 210 rice farmers across seven provinces, examining pesticide intensification, choices, and drivers.
🔗 Read at https://www.cahiersagricultures.fr/articles/cagri/full_html/2025/01/cagri240117/cagri240117.html
Acute Pesticide Poisoning Among Aquatic Farmers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Jensen, H.K. et al., Journal of Toxicology, 2011
Case study assessing self-reported poisoning symptoms and exposure patterns among Cambodian farmers.
🔗 Read at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21234245/
Programmes, Interventions & Non-toxic Transitions
Evaluation of FAO’s Asia Regional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Pesticide Risk Reduction (PRR) Programme in the Greater Mekong Subregion (FAO, 2019)
Evaluates regional IPM training, pesticide reduction results, and farmer practice changes across Asia.
🔗 Read the report: https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/b75a94f8-bb99-48af-b624-724a0208ab77/content
Towards a Non-Toxic Environment in Southeast Asia: The Field Alliance (Ongoing Programme)
Overview of national steps toward HHP phase-outs and adoption of ecological/organic pest management alternatives.
🔗 Visit The Field Alliance: https://thefieldalliance.org
GRET & CIAT – Quantifying and mapping Southeast Asia’s pesticide usage (2017)
Maps pesticide use intensity and patterns in key crops and landscapes; helpful for visualising hotspots and targeting interventions.
🔗 See https://open-library.cirad.fr/files/2/2412__Pesticide-use-mapping_GRET-CIAT.pdf
Global Resources: Where to Find Information on Banned and Hazardous Pesticides
A quick guide to trusted global databases and tools
Understanding which pesticides are banned, restricted, or considered highly hazardous can be difficult. To make things easier, here is a list of reliable global resources used by regulators, researchers, NGOs, and international organisations. These tools help you check pesticide status, toxicity, and global regulatory actions.
Multilateral (UN Treaty) Databases
These are official UN-level resources tracking bans, restrictions, and global trade rules.
Rotterdam Convention – Notifications of Final Regulatory Action
Country-by-country notifications of pesticides that have been banned or severely restricted, with explanations.
🔗 https://www.pic.int
Rotterdam Convention – Annex III Chemicals
The list of pesticides and industrial chemicals subject to Prior Informed Consent (PIC) due to bans/restrictions in multiple countries.
🔗 https://www.pic.int
Rotterdam Convention – Import Responses / PIC Circular
Shows which countries allow or prohibit the import of listed pesticides—useful for trade and compliance.
🔗 https://www.pic.int
UN Consolidated List of Banned/Restricted Products
A broad list covering chemicals (including pesticides) that countries have banned, withdrawn, or restricted.
Latest identified issue: 15th issue.
🔗 https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/708141
FAO & WHO Technical Tools
Use these to help set policies and evaluate risks.
FAO Pesticide Registration Toolkit – Restrictions & Bans
Links to global lists of banned/severely restricted pesticides, including Rotterdam entries.
🔗 https://www.fao.org/pesticide-registration-toolkit
FAO Toolkit – Hazard Classifications
Includes WHO hazard classes, IARC carcinogenicity ratings, and other toxicity indicators.
🔗 https://www.fao.org/pesticide-registration-toolkit
WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard
The global standard for identifying pesticide toxicity classes (Ia, Ib, II, etc.).
🔗 https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240069800
Global NGO databases & reports
These tools are used worldwide to track banned pesticides and highly hazardous products.
PAN International – Consolidated List of Banned Pesticides
A global spreadsheet showing which countries have banned specific active ingredients. Includes 560+ substances banned in at least one of 168 countries (2024 edition).
🔗 https://pan-international.orgPAN
PAN International – HHP List
A widely used list identifying Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) based on WHO, FAO, and environmental criteria.
🔗 https://pan-international.org
PesticideInfo.org – Banned & Hazardous Pesticides
A user-friendly website that pulls data from the PAN lists, including hazard profiles and toxicology.
🔗 http://www.pesticideinfo.org
PAN Europe – “List of Lists”
Compiles EU and international lists of banned, restricted, and high-concern pesticides.
Other useful databases
EU Pesticides Database (European Commission)
A comprehensive list of approved, non-approved, and restricted active substances, plus MRLs.
🔗 https://ec.europa.eu/food/plants/pesticides/eu-pesticides-database
MPS – Prohibited Substances List (Horticulture Certification)
Lists banned active substances for environmentally certified floriculture and ornamental production.
🔗 https://my-mps.com