The purpose of this document is to provide guidance on pest and pesticide management policy development in support of pesticide risk reduction and sustainable agricultural production. It aims to encourage governments and other stakeholders to consider the question to what extent current pesticide use is actually justified. It places pesticide management in the broader context of pest management, and elaborates on linkages between sustainable pest management and policy objectives related to environmental protection, human health, food safety and trade. 

Whereas most technical guidelines related to the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides (hereinafter referred to as the Code of Conduct) [1] elaborate on specific regulatory and technical aspects of pesticide management, this document provides guidance on policy development. Besides regulatory instruments, there is a range of policy tools that can contribute to sustainable pest management and pesticide risk reduction. Countries are encouraged to analyse their pest and pesticide management situation, to identify areas for improvement, and to develop plans to realize these improvements.