In recent years there has been increasing public concern about the safety of chemicals of all types, including pesticides used in agriculture and public health. In response to this concern, a number of interested international and non-governmental organizations have initiated or expanded programmes aimed at addressing the issue of the safe use of pesticides. The 14th meeting of the WHO Expert Committee on vector biology brought together representatives of several of these organizations plus experts from elsewhere to discuss developments in the toxicology of pesticides used in public health and in agriculture and to make recommendations regarding their safe use.