Belgian authorities have taken an important step towards sustainable agriculture by introducing Belgium plant protection product labeling requirements. An agreement has been achieved under the Federal Reduction Plan to improve plant protection product labelling.

This new effort requires that resistance codes and product nature be prominently shown on all labels, with the goal of improving information clarity and combating resistance development in hazardous species.

The “resistance code,” a vital identification associated with active compounds that have the ability to promote resistance in pest populations, is central to this agreement. To make this information more accessible and apparent, product labels must now have a distinguishing black and white defined of frame.

The primary goal of these Belgium plant protection product labeling requirements is to improve the content and visibility of critical information for farmers and users. The labels will carry a clear directive: “To avoid resistance, alternate using this product with others with a different mode of action.” The HRAC/IRAC/FRAC code(s) indicating the mechanism of action of the active substances in this product are X and Y. This phrase emphasizes the need of rotational usage in preventing resistance buildup.

• For items that include a substance with a resistance code, a specific title will show above the black and white frames. The frame will be divided into two columns, with the first stating the acronym(s) for the applicable Resistance Action Committees (HRAC for herbicides, FRAC for fungicides, and IRAC for insecticides) and the second displaying the related resistance codes.
• In addition, the Mode of Action (MoA) groups of each active ingredient will be indicated in a black rectangle between the words “GROUP (or (HRAC/FRAC/IRAC))” and the specific product type (HERBICIDE, FUNGICIDE, NEMATICIDE, or INSECTICIDE). All of this information will be presented in capital letters with a clearly defined font to ensure maximum readability and impact.

This collaborative work between the Federal Reduction Plan and Belplant represents a proactive strategy to encouraging responsible use of plant protection agents, ensuring their efficacy, and contributing to the long-term health of agricultural ecosystems.