Minutes of the 337th meeting of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) held on 12 May 2009
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
Members: Ms A Baker; Dr J Cocker; Prof G Hawksworth; Ms R Howell; Dr A Leake; Dr G M McPherson; Prof P Matthiessen; Prof C Ockleford; Dr D Osborn; Dr W Parker; Dr A Povey; Dr H Rees; Dr S Waring
Apologies: Prof C Brown; Dr C Harris; Prof J Parry; Dr D Ray
Written comments received from: Prof C Brown; Dr C Harris; Prof J Parry
Representatives from the following Departments and other organisations were present: The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), Scottish Agricultural Science Agency (SASA), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Food Standards Agency (FSA), Health Protection Agency (HPA).
At its meeting on 12 May 2009, the Committee discussed the following issues:
1. Agenda Item 1: Minutes and Detailed record of discussion
1.1 a) 336th Meeting: Minutes [ACP 1 (337/2009)]
1.1.1 Agreed as drafted. (link to minutes of 336th meeting)
1.2 b) 336th Meeting: Detailed record of discussion [ACP 2 (337/2009)]
1.2.1 Agreed as drafted, with two minor amendments.
2. Agenda Item 2: Secretary’s report. [ACP 3 (337/2009)]
The Secretary to the Committee reported on the recommendations made at previous meetings
3. Agenda Item 3: Matters arising [ACP 5 (337/2009)]
3.1 The Secretary reported on matters arising from previous meetings.
3.2 Members heard that it was anticipated that the stewardship report for chlorpropham would be available for the next meeting on 30th June.
4. Agenda Item 4: Bixafen [ACP 6 (337/2009)]
4.1 The Committee considered new information submitted by the applicant for bixafen, in support of an application for Annex I inclusion and first commercial approval in the UK for bixafen for use on cereals.
4.2 Members agreed that the information provided adequately addressed some of the issues identified at the previous meeting. However, further data were still outstanding in other areas, and would be required to support a future application for approval.
5. Agenda Item 5: Applications for the use of ‘Forefront’ and ‘Runway’ (now known as ‘Mileway’) water in oil emulsion formulations containing 30 g/l aminopyralid and 100 g/l fluroxypyr, as an agricultural herbicide and horticultural/industrial herbicide on grassland and amenity grassland [ACP 7 (337/2009)]
5.1 Members considered the applications for the re-instatement of approvals for products containing aminopyralid.
5.2 Members agreed that the applicant had taken all reasonable steps to manage manure contaminated with residues, through the proposed stewardship campaign, training and monitoring. However, there was some concern about the practicalities of the programme which would need to be addressed and closely monitored as part of the stewardship programme.
5.3 Members noted that aminopyralid was persistent in ground water, and that further confirmation of the effect of irrigating vulnerable crops from ground water sources was required.
5.4 Members were also concerned that approval in Europe could result in UK stewardship measures being by-passed. Further information was requested from the applicant about the level of approval and stewardship requirements across the EU
5.5 Subject to satisfactory resolution of these outstanding questions, members were minded to advise Ministers to re-instate approvals.
6. Agenda Item 6: Bystander Update [ACP 19 (337/2009)]
6.1 Members heard a short report on recent discussions at the Committee of Toxicity on Bystander and Resident Exposure to Pesticides.
7. Agenda Item 7: Exosex SPTab [ACP 12 (337/2009)]
7.1 Members considered the use of ‘Exosex SPTab’ as a pheromone-based insect mating disruptor for biocidal use. The Committee agreed to ‘grandfather-in’ this substance for its biocidal uses under Control of Pesticides Regulations, pending further EU review under the Biocidal Products Directive.
8. Agenda Item 8: Pesticide Usage Surveys Consultation [ACP 17 (337/2009)]
8.1 One Member declared a non-personal non specific interest and two advisors present at the meeting declared personal specific Interests.
8.2 Members considered the draft reply to this consultation exercise. The Committee discussed and noted the importance of the survey data, and identified frequency of surveys that they felt would be most useful. The ACP asked that further comments were incorporated in the draft, and the revised document would be circulated and agreed by email.
9. Report from the Environment Panel
Members heard a report of issues discussed at the 104th Meeting of the Environmental Panel held on 23rd April 2009.
10. Report from the Medical & Toxicology Panel
The Chair of the Medical and Toxicology Panel gave a report of issues discussed at the Meeting of the Environmental Panel held on 11th May 2009.
11. Agenda Item 9: Date of Next Meeting
11.1 ACP 338 on Tuesday 30th June 2009, commencing 11.00am, at Foss House, York,
12. Any Other Business
12.1 Members considered a request to attend the next meeting and agreed that, in line with their usual policy, they would welcome a written submission.
12.2 Members were informed of future discussions and workshops on food security, including the global need to reduce losses in field and store. Members were invited to be involved in these discussions and were asked to provide nominations to the Secretariat.
12.3 Dates of next Meetings and the ACP Open Meeting
The Committee discussed proposed dates for ACP Meetings to be held during 2010. The Secretariat will publish these in due course. Members also suggested food security as a possible subject for the next ACP Open Meeting, and discussed potential key speakers.
12.4 The Committee considered the items for information received since the last meeting.
J G Ayres