Integrated pest management is a crop-protection strategy that combines monitoring, biological controls, cultural practices and targeted chemical treatment to keep pest populations below damaging thresholds, reducing pesticide use and residue risk in food crops.
In trade practice
Suppliers operating under GLOBALG.A.P., organic or retailer-specific farm standards are typically required to document an integrated pest management plan covering monitoring records, intervention thresholds and product selection rationale. QA teams reviewing supplier compliance check that chemical applications are recorded with dates, products and pre-harvest intervals, as missing records are a frequent audit finding. Buyers sourcing frozen vegetables or berries should confirm that the supplier’s pest management approach is consistent with the maximum residue levels set out in Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.
In a specification
A supply contract or farm-assurance annex may require the supplier to maintain a written integrated pest management programme and make monitoring and application records available on request or at audit.