Cut flower growers are widely ignoring rules on pesticide use and are becoming less law-abiding over the years, according to research by the product safety board NVWA.

Inspectors carried out 71 checks on growers over the past two years and found that only two in five were complying properly with the regulations, the NVWA said. By contrast, in 2019, three in five growers were compliant.

The shift is a “worrying development”, the NVWA said.

Inspectors found breaches of the law at 43 companies growing chrysanthemums, freesias, hydrangeas and roses.

In particular, growers were using excessively high doses of pesticides too frequently, the NVWA said. Some companies were let off with a warning, while others were fined. Seven growers were found to be using illegal pesticides.

Using illegal pesticides, or legal ones incorrectly, can pose health risks to humans and animals, harm the environment and pollute compost, the NVWA said.

The organisation said it plans to take a tougher approach to growers who break the rules and is considering making inspection reports public.