Pesticides are regulated to make sure they don't present unacceptable risks to the public, to people who apply them, to the environment or to animals. In the UK pesticides are assessed by Government departments and an independent scientific committee, the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP). The FSA has oversight on all matters relating to the safety of the food.

Government Ministers must approve all pesticides before they can be marketed or used in the UK. Once approved, pesticide residues in the food chain are monitored through an official monitoring programme.

The ACP has published a guide to pesticide regulation in the UK. This can be found on the ACP website, under 'Introduction to the ACP'.

Any company wanting to get a pesticide approved must submit an application containing information on any potential health and environmental risks. This always includes data on the potential of the pesticide to cause cancer and damage human reproduction.

Rigorous safety assessments are undertaken to make sure that any pesticide residues remaining in the crop will not be harmful to people.

The company must also supply information on how effective the pesticide is, whether impurities are present, and whether it's safe for the people who will be applying it, the environment and animals.

Pesticides are also reviewed regularly and if a review highlights any areas of concern then more data may be sought, or the approval may be modified or withdrawn completely.