Industry deal with Environment Agency may stop pesticide ban

Prohibition of the use of pesticides in "huge buffer zones" around bodies of water could be avoided following an agreement between the Environment Agency and industry.

The Environment Agency has agreed a partnership with key sponsors of the industry-led Voluntary Initiative (VI) on implementation of the pesticides aspects of the Water Framework Directive.

Aspects of the directive - such as designation of water protection zones and River Basin Management Plans - are now being finalised, following consultation earlier this year.

Full reports on areas where water is not meeting standards for pesticide inclusion will be released by the Environment Agency later this month.

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