For pesticides, the amount applied and the frequency of applications strongly depend on the cropping systems and the agricultural crops cultivated (Roßberg, 2015). According to (EC) No 1185/2009, Member States have to report which pesticides (active substances) are used for which crop. National statistics on cropping patterns are usually available. These two information sources can be combined to obtain a realistic estimate on the active substances usually applied for a certain crop. These statistical data have also been used for the priorisation of pesticides. For instance, the German environmental agency (UBA), the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW) and a Bavarian State Environmental Lab developed out of these data a guideline for the water works concerning pesticides/metabolites to be included in the screening of the groundwater (Banning et al., 2018).
Additionally, statistics on sales data of pesticides can be used to crosscheck estimates on pesticide use/ha and crop.