The documentation of plant protection product applications has long been mandatory for professional users (including Section 11 of the Plant Protection Products Act (PflSchG) and Article 67 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009). The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/564 harmonised the content and structure of the records across the EU and, since 1 January 2026, has added additional mandatory information.
Specifically, the following have been expanded in particular:
- Product identification: Name of the plant protection product and authorisation number
- Crop information: crop or plant product with EPPO code; BBCH stage must be specified if the authorisation provides for restrictions on use according to development stages
- Area reference: geodata-based area information (e.g. FID/FLIK or GPS references, depending on the operational system)
- Time reference: Specification of the time, if the application is restricted in terms of time (e.g. conditions in the authorisation)
At the same time, records are to be kept in electronic, machine-readable format. Member States can stagger implementation with a transition period; in Germany, digital documentation will be mandatory from 1 January 2027.
The system aims to increase the traceability and evaluability of application data, in particular through standardised data elements such as EPPO code or georeference.