Term (Latin pestis = plague, caedere = to kill) for chemical substances that kill, expel or inhibit the germination, growth or reproduction of troublesome or harmful animal and plant organisms. These include pesticides and biocides. In the narrower sense, pesticides are agents used to control animal pests.
In some cases, pesticides are equated with insecticides. In a broader sense, however, pesticides are all plant protection products and pest control agents. According to EU regulations, there is a definition of "pesticide" that includes both plant protection products and biocidal products. However, the term "pesticide" is rarely used in the legal provisions of German-speaking countries. The picture on the left shows a vine treated with conventional plant protection (chemical sprays).
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