Minutes of the 323rd meeting of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) held on 30th January 2007
The Advisory Committee on Pesticides provides independent advice to Ministers on matters relating to the regulation and use of pesticides, including applications for approval of new products and reviews of existing approvals. It usually meets in closed session (because of intellectual property and commercial secrecy considerations) approximately six times a year in York.
Those present:
Chairman: Prof J G Ayres. Dr D Osborn assumed the Chairmanship from item 9 onwards after the Chairman had to leave the meeting.
Members: Ms A Baker, Prof C Brown, Mr J Clarke, Prof G Hawksworth, Prof C V Howard, Ms R Howell, Dr A Leake, Prof L Maltby, Prof P Matthiessen, Dr G M McPherson, Prof C Ockleford, Dr D Osborn, Dr H Rees, Dr V Tohani.
Apologies: Dr J Cherrie, Prof D Colman, Dr C Elcombe, Dr R Waring.
Written comments received from: Dr C Elcombe, Dr R Waring.
Representatives from the following Departments and other organisations were
present: The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), Health & Safety Executive
(HSE), Food Standards Agency (FSA), Health Protection Agency (HPA),
Natural England (NE), Environment Agency (EA).
At its meeting on 30th January 2007, the Committee discussed the following issues:
1. Agenda Item 1: Minutes and Detailed record of discussion
1.1 a) 322nd Meeting: Minutes [ACP1 (323/2007)]
Agreed subject to correction of a minor typographical error. (Minutes of 322nd meeting)
1.2 b) 322nd Meeting: Detailed record of discussion [ACP2 (323/2007)]
Agreed as drafted
1.3 c) Record of the Open Meeting 13th November 2007 [ACP 16 (323/2007)]
It was agreed that presenters for the Open Meeting would forward some revisions to the written records of their contributions to the Secretariat.
1.4 d) Draft Question and Answer for the Open Meeting [ACP 20 (323/2007)]
Agreed as drafted
2. Agenda Item 2: Secretary’s report. [ACP 3 (323/2007)]
The Secretary to the Committee reported on the recommendations made at previous meetings
3. Agenda Item 3: Matters arising
3.1 a) Ethaboxam [ACP 14 (323/2007)]
3.1.1 Members discussed the report of the Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food and agreed with the recommendation that two further studies should be undertaken. The Committee heard that the applicant is preparing to undertake these studies.
3.1.2 Members confirmed that the COM statement on Ethaboxam could be published.
3.2 b) Application for UKprovisional approval (COPR) for Madex (now know as Cyd X) containing Cydia pomonella Granulovirus (CpGV) [ACP 18 (323/2007)]
3.2.1 Following discussion at the 322nd meeting of the ACP, the ACP had sought the advice of independent experts. This advice had been received and members were reassured to hear confirmation that the virus was very specific to the host moth species. As such they were content with the risk assessment regarding transmission of Granulovirus to mammals.
With regard to possible bacterial contaminants of Cyd X. No advice had been received on the risk of transmission of respiratory pathogens to applicators. Therefore it was advised that the product was screened for common respiratory pathogens.
3.2.2 It was reported that some resistance to the virus has been found in continental Europe, and Members agreed that a clear resistance management strategy as proposed was required. Members advised that approval could be granted subject to the resistance management strategy.
3.3 c) Other Matters Arising [ACP 13 (323/2007)]
3.3.1 It was agreed that an outline of a proposed paper on economics should be circulated to Members for comments and suggestions.
3.3.2 Members requested that a proposed special meeting of the Medical and Toxicology Panel considering endocrine changes in mammalian toxicology be extended to include ecotoxicology.
3.3.3 Members noted that the minutes of discussion when considering the request to hold meetings in open session could have been phrased in a more positive manner which would better reflect the committees’ positive approach to what is a difficult issue.
4. Resistance implications of insecticide mixtures [ACP 19 (323/2007)]
4.1 The Committee discussed a paper outlining the efficacy principles to be considered in the development of formulated mixtures containing more than one insecticide. Members recalled that there is already guidance available considering the approach to risk assessment of formulations containing more than one active substance, and agreed that this document should be used as the basis for the development of guidance for applicants to consider in efficacy dossiers for mixed insecticide formulations.
4.2 Members noted the need for further development of the draft before publication as a guide, and recommended that the paper should also be discussed with the EPPO Resistance Panel, CPA and NFU. It was agreed that it would also be desirable for the farming community to consider the principles when preparing tank mixes of more than one insecticide and this should also be considered in the wider communication of the principles.
5. Value of the mouse toxicity study to pesticide risk assessments [ACP 12 (323/2007)]
5.1 Members considered an initial assessment of the extent to which the mouse chronic carcinogenicity data for new and existing compounds evaluated in the European Union had been critical to the risk assessment.
5.2 The Committee asked for further information on findings of shorter term studies in the small number of substances where it seemed there were possible mouse specific effects.
5.3 Members agreed that this paper would form a useful contribution to the on-going international discussion about mouse chronic studies, and confirmed that current plans to produce a poster for a conference should go ahead.
6. Report from PIAP [ACP 17 (323/2007)]
6.1 Members considered the Pesticides Incidents Report (PIAP) and agreed that, as in previous years, some additional information such as comparison with pesticide usage data would be helpful.
6.2 It was agreed that the PIAP chairman should be invited to the Committee to discuss the issues raised.
7. Draft Annual Report [ACP 15 (323/2007)]
7.1 Members considered the first draft of the ACP Annual Report for 2006, and considered the format adopted for its publication. It was agreed that although the current report may be unattractive to lay readers, it is acceptable in delivering a report of the work of the Committee. Members agreed however, that future format should be reviewed as part of a wider communication strategy.
8. Aquatic risk assessment for the re-registration of products containing Isoproturon [ACP 9 (323/2007)]
8.1 Two members declared a non personal specific interest, and thus only responded to questions put to them by the Chairman.
8.2 Members considered the risk to surface water from the use of products containing Isoproturon as part of the re-registration consideration for these products following the EU review.
8.3 The risk assessment considered by the Committee identified, in accordance with the Uniform Principles, an unacceptable risk to aquatic life such as algae, aquatic plants and invertebrates, from the contamination of surface water entering via drainflow. Members also considered information from the Environment Agency and other bodies that Isoproturon is found in UK waters at levels that would be expected to impact on aquatic organisms. Members were also aware that isoproturon had been identified as a priority substance in the Water Framework Directive, which would set limits for the levels that could legally be present in surface waters. Although such limits had not been finalized, there were indications that if use of isoproturon continued as at present, it would not be possible to meet this requirement. However members noted that this was a future responsibility and it did not determine the advice that they gave at this time.
8.4 Members agreed that Isoproturon is a very important and widely used herbicide, both in terms of the control it offered for some difficult to manage weeds and as a part of an important resistance management strategy. Although a range of alternatives is currently available, many of these are also under review. Members were concerned that the substance by substance approach to the review programme might result in the removal of compounds leaving possibly the least favoured molecule in terms of overall risks as the sole means of control in such scenarios. (This would obviously depend upon the order of the review programme). They noted that whilst at present this was the way in which the programme was required to operate, it was a generic concern that they wished to draw to Ministers attention.
8.5 Members considered possibilities that might assist in managing the risk to surface waters and aquatic life, including the possibility of restricting the use of Isoproturon to soils that were less vulnerable to loss via drainflow. Members concluded that whilst it might be theoretically possible to reduce surface water contamination in this way, much further work would be necessary to determine whether and how this could be put into place effectively. In addition they concluded that isoproturon would be of very limited use in weed control in such areas.
8.6 Members concluded in the light of this consideration that they would advise Ministers that isoproturon could not be re-registered for use in the UK under the conditions proposed by the notifiers.
9. Battery Operated Ready to Use containers for the Home Garden Marker [ACP 6 [323/2007)]
9.1 The Committee discussed recent innovations in packaging design in the ready to use home/garden pesticide market. When considering recent Human Health Incident Surveys in September [link to meeting 321], the ACP had noted the number of incidents involving children gaining access to home garden pesticides, and had stressed the need for particular care in storage and use.
9.2 Members assessed three battery containers, and considered that all were potentially attractive to children, and expressed concern about the effectiveness of safety catches.
9.3 The Committee was advised that one of the three containers presented was already available in the retail market, and Members considered it inequitable to allow that to remain available, while recommending that others should not be used.
9.4 Members therefore agreed that advice should be given that the existing container should be withdrawn from sale, and approval for others refused.
10. Date of Next Meeting
20th March 2007 at the National Railway Museum, York
11. Any Other Business
11.1 The Secretary reported that the detailed record of discussion of the 320th meeting of the ACP has been published on the ACP website.
11.2 Members were advised of two Position Papers for the First UK Approval for the use of Isoxaflutole and Imazamox.
J G Ayres
/2007