What are they?

Pesticides are substances or mixtures intended to prevent, destroy, repel or control organisms considered harmful, or to protect plants and plant products against them. The term encompasses different types of products and substances, including plant protection products and certain biocidal products.

Plant protection products are used, among other purposes, to protect plants and plant products against harmful organisms, control unwanted plants or regulate certain plant growth processes. Their placing on the market and use are subject to a specific authorisation and control system in the European Union and Spain.

Pesticides can be presented in different formulations and applied by different methods: liquids, powders, granules, aerosols, baits, fumigants, etc. The risk to workers' health depends on the hazardous properties of the active substances and co-formulants, the formulation, the route of exposure and the working conditions.

Occupational exposure may occur during manufacturing, formulation, transport, storage, preparation and mixing, application, cleaning and maintenance of equipment, management of containers and waste, or when entering treated areas.

Some pesticides contain substances with carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction properties, as well as substances that are sensitising, toxic to specific target organs or hazardous to the environment. Some may also have endocrine-disrupting, persistent or bioaccumulative properties.

Exposure should not be assessed solely on the basis of the toxicity of the product. It is also necessary to take into account the quantity used, concentration, duration and frequency of exposure, routes of entry into the body and the specific working conditions.

Environmental effects may include soil and water contamination and adverse effects on non-target organisms, including aquatic organisms, pollinators, fauna and flora.

What can be done?

1. Identify the active substances and other hazardous components of the products used and consult their label and safety data sheet.
2. Check that the product is authorised for the intended use and that it is used in accordance with the conditions established in its authorisation and on the label.
3. Give priority to the elimination or substitution of hazardous products with less hazardous alternatives and with pest prevention and control methods that reduce or avoid the use of chemical substances.
4. Apply the principles of integrated pest management, prioritising preventive measures, non-chemical methods and lower-risk alternatives whenever plant protection products need to be used.
5. Include exposure to pesticides in the occupational risk assessment, taking into account all tasks and stages of work in which exposure may occur.
6. The assessment should pay particular attention to operations that may result in higher exposure: preparation and mixing, application, equipment cleaning, maintenance, handling concentrated products, entering treated areas, and management of containers and waste.
7. Avoid exposure wherever possible through technical and organisational measures. Personal protective equipment should be used when necessary and in accordance with the risk assessment, the safety data sheet and the instructions on the label.
8. Ensure that workers receive adequate information and training on the hazards of the products used, preventive measures, work procedures, action in the event of an accident and the correct use of protective equipment.
9. Pay particular attention to workers who are especially sensitive to certain risks, including protection of maternity where there is exposure to agents that may affect pregnancy or breastfeeding.
10. Avoid unnecessary exposure of people who are not involved in treatments and comply with the periods and conditions established for access to treated areas for each product.
11. Keep products in their original, correctly labelled containers and store them under the conditions established by legislation and by the manufacturer.
12. Properly manage containers and waste from plant protection products and prevent their abandonment, discharge or inappropriate disposal.
13. When dealing with plant protection products, check that the product is listed in the Plant Protection Products Register of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) and consult the current authorisation conditions.
14. In activities subject to registration, marketing or professional application requirements, check compliance with the relevant obligations of the Official Register of Producers and Operators (ROPO) and the Electronic Register of Transactions and Operations (RETO).
15. In the event of accidental exposure, follow the first-aid instructions and emergency measures indicated on the label and in the safety data sheet and report the incident in accordance with the procedures established by the company.

Guidance materials

1. Prevention of risks associated with pesticides. Awareness and information guide. ISTAS.
2. Prevention of occupational and environmental risks associated with the use of and exposure to pesticides. ISTAS.
3. Guide for the prevention of occupational risks in the gardening sector, which includes specific information on exposure to pesticides. ISTAS.
4. Criteria for assessing the risk of exposure to plant protection products. National Commission for Occupational Health and Safety.
5. Guide for the substitution of hazardous substances in companies. Intervention manual. ISTAS.

Classification and registers

Pesticides should be classified according to their product type, intended use, active substances and hazardous properties.

In the case of plant protection products, the approval of active substances and the authorisation of products are carried out in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 and its implementing legislation. Plant protection products may only be placed on the market when they have the corresponding authorisation.

The MAPA Plant Protection Products Register allows users to consult products authorised in Spain and their conditions of use. MAPA Plant Protection Products Register

There is also an Official Register of Producers and Operators of plant protection means (ROPO), which makes it possible to verify the authorisation of operators and entities involved in the marketing, distribution and use of plant protection means. ROPO

The Electronic Register of Transactions and Operations involving Plant Protection Products (RETO) records transactions and facilitates traceability throughout the supply chain. RETO

Products classified as biocidal products are subject to a different legal framework, established primarily by Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 concerning the making available on the market and use of biocidal products.

Legislation

Plant protection products

1. Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market. It establishes the European framework for the approval of active substances and the authorisation of plant protection products.
2. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011, concerning the list of approved active substances under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, together with its subsequent amendments.
3. Commission Regulation (EU) No 547/2011, concerning labelling requirements for plant protection products.
4. Commission Regulation (EU) No 546/2011, concerning uniform principles for evaluation and authorisation of plant protection products.
5. Commission Regulation (EU) No 283/2013 and Commission Regulation (EU) No 284/2013, concerning the data requirements applicable respectively to active substances and plant protection products.
6. Law 43/2002 of 20 November on plant health. It establishes the basic Spanish framework on plant health and regulates, among other matters, the authorisation and registration of plant protection products.
7. Royal Decree 1311/2012 of 14 September, establishing the framework for action to achieve sustainable use of plant protection products. It includes measures concerning sustainable use, training, integrated pest management, registers and other obligations relating to the use of these products.
8. Royal Decree 285/2021 of 20 April, establishing conditions for the storage, placing on the market, import or export, official control and authorisation of trials involving plant protection products, and amending Royal Decree 1311/2012.
9. Royal Decree 971/2014 of 21 November, regulating the evaluation procedure for plant protection products.

Occupational health and safety

1. Law 31/1995 of 8 November on Occupational Risk Prevention.
2. Royal Decree 39/1997 of 17 January, approving the Regulation on Prevention Services.
3. Royal Decree 374/2001 of 6 April, on the protection of the health and safety of workers against risks related to chemical agents at work. It is particularly relevant to the assessment and prevention of occupational exposure to pesticides that are classified as hazardous chemical agents.
4. Royal Decree 665/1997 of 12 May, on the protection of workers against risks related to exposure to carcinogens, mutagens or reprotoxic substances at work, where applicable due to the properties of the product or its components.
5. Royal Decree 773/1997 of 30 May, on minimum health and safety requirements for the use of personal protective equipment by workers.
6. Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, applicable to substances and mixtures falling within its scope.

Biocidal products

1. Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the making available on the market and use of biocidal products, together with its subsequent amendments.
2. Royal Decree 3349/1983, insofar as any provisions remain in force and are applicable.

Legislation on biocidal products should be consulted together with Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 and its current implementing and amending acts.

Official sources and registers

1. Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA): Plant Protection Products Register.
2. Official Register of Producers and Operators (ROPO).
3. Electronic Register of Transactions and Operations involving Plant Protection Products (RETO).
4. EUR-Lex: European Union legislation on plant protection products and biocidal products.
5. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (INSST): information and documentation on occupational risk prevention relating to chemical agents.
6. ISTAS: information and awareness-raising materials on occupational and environmental risks associated with pesticides.

References

The information in this section should be kept up to date by consulting the official registers and the consolidated versions of European and Spanish legislation.

In particular, the following should be checked periodically:

1. The approval status of active substances.
2. The authorisation and conditions of use of plant protection products marketed in Spain.
3. Amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 and its implementing regulations.
4. Amendments to the Spanish framework on the sustainable use of plant protection products.
5. Amendments to occupational health and safety legislation applicable to hazardous chemical agents.
6. Amendments to Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 concerning biocidal products.

Last updated: August 2026.