From 1 January 2014, European Directive 2009/128 establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides is in force.
According to the European directive, integrated pest management is the following:
IPM or integrated pest management is the careful consideration of all available crop protection methods, followed by the integration of appropriate measures that prevent the development of pest populations, keep the use of plant protection products and other forms of intervention to economically and ecologically justified levels, and minimise the risk to human health and the environment. Integrated Pest Management focuses on growing healthy crops, minimising disruption to agricultural ecosystems and encouraging natural pest control. Systems with low pesticide inputs such as organic farming are included.
Integrated pest management is based on eight main principles:
Wetgeving IPM (Departement Landbouw en Visserij Vlaanderen,Dutch)
Geïntegreerde bestrijding van ziekten en plagen (Wageningen University & Research, Dutch)