Pesticides Initiative Programme

The Pesticides Initiative Programme (PIP) is financed by the European Development Fund (EDF) and implemented by the COLEACP, an inter-professional organisation devoted to the ACP-UE horticultural trade. PIP has two main objectives:to enabe ACP companies to comply with European food safety requirements, so as to consolidate their share of the fresh fruit and vegetable market in Europe and to safeguard and strenghen the position of small producers in the ACP horticultural export sector. In practice, PIP is setting up and strenthening food safety procedures in the production and marketing process; training staff in food safety procedures and more generaly, it uses good company practises; adapting crop protocols to the new EU regulation. PIP also intervenes in the process of setting up Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides by EU and the corresponding adaptation of ACP regulations. Additionaly, with its Capacity Building component, PIP develops a national capacity to provide the wide range of services needed by the industry including: private consultants to train and advise on food safety, pesticide use, and IPM ; local/regional auditing and certification bodies; pesticide registration systems compatible with EU requirements; accredited laboratories for pesticide residue analysis; strong professional organisations; and a national Task Force that represents and articulates the needs of the industry.

The first phase was runnig from Juli 2001 until Juli 2008. Currently the projects finds itself in a transition phase, which will last until end of 2009. PIP phase 2 should be up and running before the end of 2009. After the very positive results obtained, and given the socio-economic importance of the horticultural sector, the ACP States have made a specific request to the EC for the PIP Programme to be renewed for another 5-year period.  In response to this request, and in line with the recommendations made by the evaluation team, EuropeAid has confirmed its intention to renew the PIP on the same terms of institutional support. The representative character of our Association (over 80% of the sector) and the series of successful technical evaluations and financial audits are the best guarantees of success for the second phase of the Programme. The European Commission is working to avoid a break between the end of the PIP Transition Phase and the start of PIP 2.