About PSD

The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) is an Agency of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). We employ around 200 scientific, policy and support staff headed by a Chief Executive and three Directors at our offices in York. We are responsible for:

• Providing controls on pesticides used in agriculture, horticulture and in the garden under the Control of Pesticides Regulations and The Plant Protection Product Regulations.
• Monitoring the use of pesticides and taking enforcement action against illegal use.
• Providing policy advice to Ministers
• Supporting the UK and EU reviews of the safety of pesticides on the market.
• Working to standardise pesticide regulation within Europe for plant protection products under 91/414/EEC.
• Co-ordinating a programme of research and development to complement the approvals system and support our policy objectives

'Pesticide' is a broad term, covering a range of products that are used to control pests. They include:

• insect killers (insecticides)
• mould and fungi killers (fungicides)
• weedkillers (herbicides)
• slug pellets (molluscicides)
• plant growth regulators and
• bird and animal repellents

Further information can be found on the PSD website.

The Chemicals Assessment Schemes Unit (CASU) of HSE acts as the regulatory authority in the UK for implementing the European and National permissioning schemes for biocides and non-agricultural pesticides.