Denmark proposes pesticide ban to protect groundwater

The Danish Ministry of Environment has launched an eight-week consultation period for a legislative proposal to ban the use of pesticides in vulnerable groundwater-forming areas. The proposal aims to protect the nation's drinking water for current and future generations by moving away from voluntary measures toward mandatory restrictions.

The proposed law would prohibit the commercial use of pesticides, the deposition of contaminated soil, and the application of sewage sludge in these sensitive areas. Environment Minister Maria Reumert Gjerding described the move as a “milestone” and an end to decades of insufficient protection.

While the current proposal establishes the framework for the ban, specific rules regarding compensation for affected farmers and businesses will be determined through subsequent executive orders following the law's passage.