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Pesticides are an integral component of agricultural systems throughout the world.
It is generally accepted that this will continue for the foreseeable future in many circumstances if the production of food of acceptable quality is to increase. However, pesticide use has costs as well as benefits. As far as the environment is concerned, information must be provided before a product is registered to provide assurance that it can be used without unacceptable hazard to non-target organisms. In addition, post-registration surveillance and monitoring studies are necessary to check that the fate and environmental effects of pesticides under field conditions are consistent with predictions. For a variety of reasons, developing countries often have to rely on data generated elsewhere in order to assess the acceptability of a compound, particularly if it is off-patent.