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About the Voluntary Initiative

In 2001 the Government accepted proposals put forward by the farming and crop protection industry to minimise the environmental impacts from the pesticides. The programme was developed as an alternative to a pesticide tax which had been under consideration by the Government.

By 2006 the programme had met or exceeded the vast majority of its targets. In the light of this, the VI Steering Group proposed to Ministers that The Voluntary Initiative should continue as a rolling two year programme. These proposals were welcomed by the Government.

An independent Steering Group, under the Chairmanship of Professor Barry Dent OBE, directs the implementation process and reports progress to Defra Ministers. The Chancellor of the Exchequer also reports progress to Parliament in the Budget and pre-budget statements

The current sponsors of the VI are:
  • Crop Protection Association
  • National Farmers Union
  • National Farmers Union of Scotland
  • Country Land and Business Association
  • Agricultural Industries Confederation (formerly UKASTA)
  • National Association of Agricultural Contractors
  • Agricultural Engineers Association
  • Ulster Farmers Union
Click here to view the 2006 proposals

Click here to view the original 2001 proposals.