EUROPE – EFSA: Recurring issues in mammalian toxicology

During the EFSA peer review of pesticide active substances under Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009, several aspects in the area of mammalian toxicology were identified by EFSA that needed discussion with experts from National Authorities in order to enhance the harmonisation of the risk assessment of active substances.

A new discussion was held at the Pesticide Peer Review Meeting 17 of October 2019. The following topics were addressed [...]

EUROPE - EFSA: first cumulative risk reports of pesticides in food published

After a 2-month period of public consultation, EFSA released the final reports of assessments on the risks posed to humans by residues of multiple pesticides in food, one considering chronic effects on the thyroid system and the other acute effects on the nervous system.

The overall conclusion for both assessments is that consumer risk from dietary cumulative exposure is, with varying degrees of certainty, below the threshold that triggers regulatory action for all the population groups covered. [...]

FRANCE: Glyphosate - Teams selected to conduct complementary studies

In August 2019, ANSES launched a call for tenders for the conduct of several complementary in vitro and in vivo studies following the controversy over the carcinogenic classification of glyphosate.

After the evaluation of the proposals and the analysis of relationships of interest, ANSES announce the selection of the following teams: a consortium coordinated by the “Institut Pasteur de Lille” and the International agency for research on cancer (IARC). [...]

FRANCE: Use of copper in agriculture

The French Ministry of Agriculture and Food published an article on its website related to the use of copper in agriculture. This follows the renewal of approval of the active substance “copper compounds” since 1 January 2019 for a period of 7 years.

The main points to highlight are [...]

FRANCE: New requirements for the approval of PPP for “amateur” uses

The Order aiming at strengthening the requirements for the authorisation of plant protection products for “amateur” uses  was published on 10 April 2020. It repeals the Order of 30 December 2010 banning the use of some plant protection products by non professional users and the Order of 30 December 2010 concerning packaging and labelling requirements  of plant protection products that can be used by non professional users.

The strengthening is implemented in the context of the “LABBÉ’s” law No. 2014-110 of 6 February 2014. The law set the ban of sales, dispensing, use and possession of plant protection products by non professional users in place since 1st January 2019 with the aim to reduce the risks associated to the use of pesticides by amateurs. There are three exceptions to this ban for products authorised for non professional users (claim “emploi autorisé dans les jardins (EAJ)”) [...]

FRANCE – ANSES: Plant protection substances of concern

As part of the French government plan for a less pesticide-dependent agriculture, a CGAAER-CGEDD-IGAS inspection mission listed in 2017 some of the active substances of concern the most frequently identified or mentioned in monitoring reports.

ANSES was seized on 10 July 2018 in order to conduct an expert appraisal of these substances of concern. The corresponding Opinion has just been published. [...]

FRANCE – ANSES: Impacts of Ordinance 2020-306 on grace periods

Ordinance 2020-306 of 25 March 2020 was published in the OJ as part of the health emergency period linked to the spread of Covid-19. The ordinance aims to extend deadlines during the health emergency period and to adapt administrative procedures during this same period.

The provisions of this ordinance directly impact the terms of withdrawal of plant protection products, fertilisers or adjuvants when the grace periods granted have expired or expire between 12 March 2020 and the expiration of a period of one month from the date of cessation of the declared state of health emergency (currently set as of 24 May 2020) i.e. to date 24 June 2020.

In this context, ANSES published a Note [...]

FRANCE – ANSES: Covid-19 – New temporary procedures for submitting dossiers

In view of the current Covid-19 situation, ANSES has adapted its organisation to allow authorisation and parallel trade permit holders (plant protection products, fertilisers, adjuvants) to submit their dossiers in a dematerialised and secure manner.

Thus, 4 temporary submission procedures are possible [...]

FRANCE: National memo on sustainable management of fungicides resistance of Sclerotinia sclerotinium in oilseed rape

The national memo on sustainable management of fungicide resistance of Sclerotinia sclerotinium on oilseed rape has been published.

This memo provides an overview of oilseed rape Sclerotinia sclerotinium resistance to the main fungicide families authorised in France and gives recommendations to limit resistance development risks and to maintain the products’ effectiveness. [...]