Grace Period for Transition to Mandatory Digital Record-Keeping for Plant Protection Products
Date published:
DAERA advises that new mandatory record-keeping requirements for plant protection products (PPPs) will take effect on 1 January 2026.
However, to make the transition easier for everyone, DAERA has triggered an option which allows the mandatory electronic transfer of PPP records to be postponed for one year until 1 January 2027.
This gives professional users more time to prepare and adapt.
From 1st January 2026 all Professional users should start introducing the following additional content requirements into their PPP records:
- Product authorisation number (MAPP)
- EPPO codes for crops/land uses
- BBCH codes for crop growth stages
Paper records will remain acceptable until 31 December 2026.
Looking ahead - from 1 January 2027, all records of PPP use must be in an electronic, machine-readable format. Where records are initially created in paper form, they must be converted within the required timeframe.
For further information and resources, visit DAERA’s official guidance page or contact the Department directly on pesticides@daera-ni.gov.uk
Notes to editors:
- Plant protection products (PPPs), also known as pesticides are used to protect crops against harmful pests and diseases or to control weeds. Examples include insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, molluscicides, and plant growth regulators.
- The transition option is provided for under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2203 amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/564 as regards the transfer into electronic format of the records of plant protection products kept by professional users.
- Regulation (EC) 1107/2009, Article 67 already requires all professional users to collect and maintain records of PPP use—including product name, time, dose, area, and crop—and make these records available upon request by authorities or third parties. However, it only sets out general obligations but does not specify format or timing of records.
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/564 as regards the content and format of the records of plant protection products kept by professional users builds on Article 67 by establishing detailed rules on both content and format of PPP records, precisely defining what information is required and introducing mandatory digital format.
- Regulation (EC) 1107/2009 is included in Annex 2 of the Windsor Framework. The new Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) 2023/564 and (EU) 2025/2203, implement Article 67(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 and are therefore also applicable in Northern Ireland.
- The Plant Protection Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 contain provisions to enforce the record-keeping requirements set out in Article 67 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009.
- DAERA is the Competent Authority for enforcing Regulation (EC) 1107/2009 in Northern Ireland.
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