ECONOMIC AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF PESTICIDE USE IN UKRAINE IN THE CONTEXT OF EU REQUIREMENTS
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Abstract
Current global trends towards greening agricultural production, increased attention to the implementation of eco-friendly practices, and reducing the negative impact of the agricultural sector on the environment pose new challenges for Ukraine. Along with overcoming the consequences of the war, Ukrainian farmers must respond to international requirements for environmentally friendly agricultural practices. This is, first and foremost, a prerequisite for participation in international trade in agricultural products, competitiveness on world markets, compliance with European integration requirements, and the restoration of the agricultural sector in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. Accordingly, one of the important issues is to achieve a reasonable balance between the need to reduce the use of chemicals in production processes, replace hazardous pesticides and agrochemicals with safer alternatives, and the need to reduce production costs. In view of the above, research into the economic and legal aspects of pesticide use in Ukraine in the context of EU requirements is particularly relevant, which is the purpose of this scientific article. The use of such scientific methods as philosophical (dialectical), general scientific (formal-logical and analytical) and special legal (comparative-legal and formal-legal) methods contributed to the solution of the research tasks. The statistical method of data processing and analysis was also used in the work. The study found that the absence of a ban on the use of neonicotinoid insecticides, which are particularly harmful to pollinating insects, in Ukrainian legislation is leading to an increase in their use, which is inconsistent with the position of the European Union, where such use is prohibited. At the same time, attention is focused on the economic risks for small agricultural producers in cases where a similar ban is imposed. It is noted that, given the difficult economic situation caused by the full-scale war, compliance with the requirements established by the EU in this area is practically impossible. It has been established that, despite significant risks to the environment and human health, Ukrainian legislation allows the use of pesticides by aerial spraying. The main shortcomings of the prospective legislation prohibiting this method of pesticide application and its non-compliance with EU legislation requirements have been identified (in particular, the establishment of an exhaustive list of cases for obtaining permits for aerial spraying of pesticides; reduction of the notification period for the start of such work). An economic and legal assessment of the prospects for using unmanned aerial vehicles to apply plant protection products in Ukraine and the EU has been carried out. The conclusions reached may form the basis for further economic and legal research in the field of plant protection product management.
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plant protection products, pesticides, environment, agriculture, crop yield, bee poisoning, human health, biodiversity, innovative technologies, production costs
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