5. PESTICIDES IN ISRAEL
5.1
General
A pesticide is a substance or mixture of substances intended for destroying pests that can
harm agricultural crops, the human environment, livestock, and pets. Most pesticides existing
today are chemical substances, but there are also biological pesticides derived from animal
and plant toxins.
Pesticides can be classified on the basis of various characteristics, including their intended
uses, chemical compositions, and application methods. The main uses of pesticides are
extermination of insects in the various stages of their development, extermination of weeds
that usurp nutrients from plants, extermination of fungi, and extermination of harmful rodents.
The method (gas, spray, solid, liquid, etc.) of applying the pesticide influences the action of
the toxic ingredients (the active ingredients) in the pesticide formulation in the various uses.
The substance is adapted for use by adding additives such as solvents, agents, adjuvants,
various powders, etc.
Pesticide formulations must be pre-approved and registered at the government ministries
that control their chemical actions and uses. The ministries also define safety regulations for
each pesticide.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for laws and regulations
and for provision of professional services, as well as for registration and supervision of
pesticides that are permitted for agricultural and veterinary use. In addition, the Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for chemical tests of agricultural produce
that has been treated with pesticides.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection is responsible for combating pests in the human
environment by providing licences and supervising the use of pesticide formulations in
sanitation by the general public and by exterminators. In addition, the Ministry is responsible
for monitoring pests in the environment and instructing professional exterminators.
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5.2
Purpose and Implications of the Indicator
5.2.1
Purpose of the Indicator
The purpose of the indicator is to provide information about quantities of pesticides imported
and sold. Its intent is to help in identification of trends and developments in the marketing of
pesticides in Israel. The indicator will also help to estimate the potential national use of
pesticides in agriculture, sanitation, and veterinary use. Long-term investigation of the
subject of extermination enables examination of changes that have taken place in sales of
the various pesticides over the years. In addition, the indicator enables comparison of data
with other countries.
The indicator, which is derived from a pesticide survey that was conducted after a series of
consultations with the relevant government ministries, constitutes part of a series of activities
undertaken as part of Israel’s joining the OECD. The most recent pesticide survey in Israel,
which was conducted in 1998, included pesticides in agriculture only.
Consumers of the information on this indicator include, among others, the Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, business
organizations in the field of pesticides, international organizations such as the OECD and the
UN, environmental organizations, and the general public.
This indicator presents data on the pesticides sold for the various uses, by active ingredient
in the pesticide formulation. The specific uses of the pesticides are listed by type of pesticide
(insecticides, herbicides, rodenticides, etc.), and by selected chemical families (organophosphates, triazines, etc.).
5.2.2
The Effect of the Pesticides in Israel Indicator on Agriculture
Use of pesticides is vital to intensive agriculture, especially in Israel’s hot climate, which is
characterized by rapid reproduction of pests. Yet, the pesticides can cause harm to the
natural systems present in the surroundings of the farm as well as to air quality, water
sources, soil, and the population.
5.2.3
The Investigation Period
The survey included the years 2008–2010.
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5.3
Methodology
The survey covered the vast majority of the companies that manufacture and/or import
pesticides in Israel that are licenced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
and by the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
Companies were selected according to their size and target market (agriculture and/or
sanitation and/or veterinary use), after consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development.
Survey questionnaires were sent to approximately 100 companies in order to obtain
information on the quantities of sales of pesticide formulations authorized by the Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development and by the Ministry of Environmental Protection for use in
agriculture, sanitation, or for veterinary use. After receipt of the information, the data on the
quantities and chemical composition of the pesticide formulations were analyzed.
The survey lasted over a year. Data were collected from the companies through a
questionnaire sent by regular post, fax, and e-mail. The questionnaire was based on lists of
pesticides appearing in the pamphlet "Pesticide Formulations for Plant Protection Registered
for Use and Sale in Israel" published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,
or appearing in the registration system of the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The
companies were asked to report on quantities of pesticides sold each year by intended use,
as well as on the measurement units used to calculate the quantities sold.
Questionnaires were obtained from 67 companies, out of 102 companies included in the
survey. The other companies either were not active or their activity did not match the criteria
for inclusion in the survey.
5.3.1
Method of Calculating the Indicator
After receiving the completed questionnaires from the companies, the data were entered into
a raw data table by categories such as chemical features, uses, and formulations.
Calculations were carried out as follows:
The quantity of active ingredients in the pesticide formulation multiplied by the amount of
pesticide formulation sold results in the total quantity of active ingredients sold. For example,
if 1,000 liters of pesticide formulation containing 2% active ingredients were sold, the total
quantity of active ingredients sold was 20 liters. Then, each category was summed for each
year and transferred to a summary table.
The data obtained were subject to a series of quality tests, and were compared to additional
sources of data to the extent possible.
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In addition, several indicators were calculated on the basis of the data, including:

The ratio of tons of active ingredients in pesticide formulations for use in agriculture
(a) to the agricultural area, and (b) to plant produce.

International comparisons of quantities of active ingredients sold for agricultural use,
and the ratio of tons of active ingredients in pesticide formulations for use in
agriculture (a) to the agricultural area, and (b) to plant produce.

The ratio per capita of the active ingredients in formulations for sanitary use.
5.3.2
Reliability of the Data

The estimates presented in this publication are subject to errors deriving from
miscalculations, mistakes in data entry, etc.

The data relate to sales, and therefore represent the potential for use of the
pesticides rather than actual use during the surveyed years.

There is no breakdown by geographic areas or specific uses, because some of the
formulations have a broad range of uses, and there is no way of determining
conclusively how the sold products were used.

A comparison of the data and categories defined for that year with an analysis of
agricultural uses that was conducted in 2008 by the Dmrkynetec Company for the
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development showed that the data and categories
matched.
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5.4
Indicator Data
23: PESTICIDES SOLD FOR USE IN AGRICULTURE –
TOTAL ACTIVE INGREDIENTS(1)
2008–2010
7,400
7,200
Tons
7,000
6,800
6,600
6,400
6,200
2008
2009
2010
(1) See the term “active ingredient” in Section 5.5,
“Terms, Definitions and Explanations”.
In 2008–2010, between 6.6 and 7.3 thousand tons of active ingredients from pesticide
formulations were sold in Israel (Diagram 23).
In 2009, sales of active ingredients decreased by approximately 9%, whereas in 2010 there
was an increase of approximately 2%.
Table F: Pesticides Sold for Use in Agriculture – Active Ingredients,
by Usage Group(1)
2008–2010
2008
Usage Group
Tons
2009
%
Tons
2010
%
Tons
%
Total
7,331
100
6,667
100
6,839
100
Fungicides and bactericides
2,181
30
2,114
32
2,103
31
Fumigants
2,406
33
1,788
27
1,931
28
Herbicides and defoliants
1,081
15
1,398
21
1,241
18
Insecticides and acaricides
1,273
17
1,002
15
1,172
17
Postharvest treatment
127
2
110
2
127
2
Plant growth regulators
53
1
60
1
65
1
Adjuvants
68
1
72
1
64
1
Micronutrients
29
0
27
0
33
0
114
2
95
1
103
2
Other
(1)
See “Usages of Pesticide Products in Agriculture” in Section 5.5, “Terms, Definitions and
Explanations”.
The main usages over the years have been fungicides and bactericides, fumigants,
herbicides, insecticides and acaricides (Table F). Sales of the active ingredients in the
formulations for these uses constituted over 90% of the total sales in the surveyed years.
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The increases and decreases in the quantities of active ingredients sold might have occurred
due to changes in the prices of pesticides, changes in the mix of crops, changes in the
pesticides that are approved and recommended for use, changes in growing conditions, and
changes in stock.
24: PESTICIDES SOLD FOR USE IN AGRICULTURE –
DISTRIBUTION OF TYPES OF PESTICIDES SOLD, BY USAGE GROUP
2010
Other
11.4%
Fungicides and
bactericides
24.8%
Plant growth
regulators
7.4%
Postharvest
treatment
3.5%
Fumigants
1.2%
Herbicides and
defoliants
22.7%
Insecticides and
acaricides
29.0%
In 2010, 569 types of agricultural pesticide formulations were sold for the various usages.
Even though the quantity of ingredients for fumigant formulations sold in 2010 was
approximately 30% of the total quantity sold that year (Table F), the number of types of
fumigant formulations was only approximately 1% of all formulations (Diagram 24).
25: PESTICIDES SOLD FOR USE IN
AGRICULTURE – ACTIVE
INGREDIENTS(1), BY USAGE GROUP,
SELECTED YEARS(2)
7,000
6,000
Other
5,000
Herbicides and defoliants
Tons
4,000
3,000
Fungicides, bactericides, and
fumigants
2,000
Insecticides and animal
pesticides
1,000
0
1970
1980
1998
2010
(1)
The data do not include oils due to a change in the classification
of pesticide products containing oils.
(2)
Data for 1998 and 2010 are from the ICBS. Data for previous years
were obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
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The sales level of active ingredients in pesticides for use in agriculture in 2010 was
considerably higher than in 1970 and 1998, and was similar to the sales level in 1980
(Diagram 25). Regarding the shares of active ingredients, the percentage of fungicides,
bactericides, and fumigants out of all ingredients sold in 2010 was higher than in the previous
years presented in the diagram. Regarding the shares of ingredients for other usages, a
mixed trend was recorded over the years.
26: PESTICIDES SOLD FOR USE IN AGRICULTURE –
SELECTED CHEMICAL FAMILIES
2008–2010
2,500
Tons
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
2008
2009
Dithiocarbamates
2010
Organo-phosphates
An analysis of sales of the active ingredients in agricultural pesticide formulations by
chemical family revealed that sales of the dithiocarbamates group decreased by
approximately 25% between 2008 and 2009, and then increased in 2010 to a level similar to
that of 2008. This occurred because the use of certain formulations, including methyl
bromide, was discontinued, and new formulations entered the market. In the organophosphates group, there were only slight fluctuations in the amount of sales during the
surveyed years (Diagram 26).
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27: TONS OF ACTIVE INGREDIENTS PER THOUSAND DUNAMS
OF AGRICULTURAL LAND AREA, SELECTED COUNTRIES
2010
3.5
3.2
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
Romania
Latvia
Estonia
Finland
Slovakia
Poland
Ukraine
Turkey
Norway
Denmark
Hungary
Austria
United Kingdom
Germany
Slovenia
Ireland
Moldova
Italy
Netherlands
Japan
Portugal
0.0
Israel
Tons of active ingredients
per thousand dunams of agricultural land area
International Comparisons
28: TONS OF ACTIVE INGREDIENTS PER TONS OF PLANT PRODUCE,
SELECTED COUNTRIES
2010
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.5
1.0
0.5
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Romania
Denmark
Norway
Finland
Poland
Ukraine
Austria
Latvia
Estonia
Slovakia
Turkey
Moldova
Hungary
United Kingdom
Germany
Ireland
Netherlands
Slovenia
Italy
Israel
Portugal
0.0
Japan
Tons of active ingredients per tons of plant produce
In Israel in 2010, the ratio of tons of active ingredients to thousand dunams of agricultural
land area (vegetables and field crops) was approximately 3.2 tons of active ingredients per
thousand dunams of agricultural land area. This ratio was considerably higher than the ratios
in other countries, as shown in Diagram 27.
Diagram 28 presents the ratio between the quantity of pesticides applied and the plant crop
produce in the field. Among the countries presented in the diagram, Israel ranks high in this
ratio, after Portugal and Japan.
5.5
Terms, Definitions, and Explanations

Active ingredient – The toxic component of a pesticide formulation. Pesticide
formulations are composed of between one and three active ingredients diluted in a
base substance that increases the volume of the formulation. The concentration of
active ingredient is measured in kg. of active ingredient per liter or per kg. of the
formulation.

Usages of pesticide products in agriculture – Different pesticide formulations are
intended to treat different pests in agriculture. The various usages are as follows:

o
Fungicides and bactericides – exterminate fungi and bacteria that cause diseases in
plants.
o
Fumigants (substances that sterilize soil) – exterminate fungi and pests in soil before
planting.
o
Herbicides and defoliants (substances that cause leaves to fall off) – exterminate
weeds, which compete for water and nutrients in fields.
o
Insecticides and acaricides (substances that exterminate spiders) – exterminate
insects that damage plants and fruits.
o
Post-harvest treatment (substances for preservation and storage of fruit after picking)
– for long-term storage.
o
Plant growth regulation (hormones for growth regulation) – increase growth by adding
substances that enhance growth in various parts of the plant.
o
Agents and various adjuvants – substances that improve the effectiveness of the
pesticide’s activity.
o
Micronutrients (substances containing nutrient supplements for plants) – addition of
nutrients to plants.
Chemical families – Active ingredients in pesticide formulations are associated with
chemical families according to characteristics of their chemical composition, as well
as their extermination mechanism and its impact. The environmental impact of the
various chemical families is divided according to the range of the impact (broad
versus narrow impact). Chemical families of pesticides with a broad impact cause
harm to a relatively large number of pests. Regarding the nature of their
environmental impact, pesticides in these families are toxic for animals and humans
in the vicinity of the active ingredients. Chemical families of pesticides with a narrow
impact affect a specific pest, and cause minimal harm to the environment, such that
exposure to pesticides in these families is less dangerous.
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Families of pesticides – broad impact:
o
Chlorinated hydrocarbons – effective insecticides. Highly toxic ingredients.
Harmful to the nervous system.
o
Carbamates – insecticides for all types of usage. Highly toxic ingredients. Harmful
to the nervous system.
o
Organo-phosphates – insecticides. Highly toxic ingredients. Mutagens and
carcinogens (suspected). Harmful to the nervous system.
o
Pyrethroids – insecticides. Relatively low toxicity. Permitted for extensive use in
sanitation.
o
Dinitroanilines – herbicides and prevention of budding. Relatively low toxicity.
Suspected carcinogen.
o
Triazoles – A group of substances that are fungicides. Low toxicity for humans.
o
Phenoxy hormones – herbicides and prevention of budding. Relatively low
toxicity.
Families of pesticides – narrow impact:
5.6

o
Dithiocarbamates – fungicides and bactericides for use on plants and on the soil.
Low toxicity.
o
Benzimidazoles – fungicides. Low toxicity for humans.
o
Triazines – herbicides. Suspected pollutants of ground water. Low toxicity for
humans.
o
Inorganics – mineral compounds added to soil for the enhancement of plant
growth. Low toxicity for humans.
Sources of the Data
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development – Plant Protection and Inspection
Services:
http://www.ppis.moag.gov.il/ppis

International comparison data were taken from the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) data:
http://faostat.fao.org/site/678/default.aspx#ancor
http://faostat.fao.org/site/679/default.aspx#ancor
http://faostat.fao.org/site/567/default.aspx#ancor

Sales data were calculated at the ICBS by the Agriculture and Environment Sector, in
accordance with OECD guidelines.

The Dmrkynetec Company for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development:
Sigma HY2008 Research Programme – Summary Report: Israel, October 14, 2009.
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