The goal of undesirable species control
Pesticides: functions and early developments

The official name for pesticides is produits agropharmaceutiques (Afnor) or phytopharmaceutiques (Directive 91/414/EEC of July 15 1991 and Article L. 253-1 of the French Rural Code). The name most commonly used in the industry is produits phytosanitaires.

Europe distinguishes these products, which are used specifically for agricultural purposes and are intended to protect plants or control their development, from those used to destroy, repel or neutralize undesirable species outside a plant protection context, such as insecticides directed against disease-carrying insects or carpentry treatment products, for example. The latter are known as biocides (Directive 98/8/EC of February 16, 1998). Lawyers, toxicologists, veterinarians and doctors...