FAO Strengthens Pesticide Governance at OECD Workshop in Egypt

 15–17 April 2025, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), represented by Mr. Thaer Yaseen, FAO Regional Officer for Plant Protection, FAO RNE, participated in the Workshop on Pesticide Risk Reduction held in Cairo from 15 to 17 April 2025. The event was organized in collaboration with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation in Egypt.

The workshop brought together policymakers, regulatory authorities, and inspectors from various Egyptian government entities, focusing on enhancing Egypt's efforts toward safer and more sustainable pesticide management. The goal was to raise awareness and provide technical guidance over three days, each targeting specific groups: policy makers on the first day, regulatory authorities on the second, and field inspectors, including customs officers and agricultural inspectors, on the third.

The event began with welcome remarks from Egypt and the OECD, followed by an overview of the programme. The discussions centered around the OECD’s role in pesticide regulation, legal frameworks, and recommendations on combating the illegal pesticide trade, risk indicators, and protecting proprietary rights. Egypt also presented its national pesticide management framework, outlining policies and implementation efforts. Later sessions covered key topics such as monitoring pesticide poisoning, prevention strategies, and drone-based pesticide risk management, with insights from international experts.

The workshop underscored FAO’s role in supporting national pesticide governance. In this context, Mr. Thaer Yaseen delivered a keynote presentation on the FAO Pesticide Registration Toolkit and FAO Pesticide Specifications, emphasizing their importance in strengthening national regulatory frameworks and promoting the safe and sustainable use of pesticides. Mr. Yaseen expressed appreciation for the collaborative spirit of the workshop. He reiterated FAO’s commitment to supporting Egypt and all NENA countries in improving pesticide regulatory frameworks and inspection systems for a healthier, more sustainable agricultural sector. 3 The national pesticide management framework in Egypt was reviewed, including relevant policies and implementation efforts. The Agricultural Pesticides Committee, represented by Dr. Mohamed Abdel Megid, Chair of the Committee, also highlighted its pivotal role in regulating, evaluating, and monitoring the circulation and use of pesticides, in addition to ongoing initiatives to align national practices with international standards. This workshop represents an important step toward strengthening collaboration between international partners such as the OECD and FAO and the countries of the Near East and North Africa region. It also serves as an effective platform for capacity building and knowledge exchange, and a strategic move to enhance pesticide governance and reinforce cooperation among stakeholders to ensure safe agriculture and the protection of public health and the environment.