Update - Revocation of authorisations for all products containing paraquat
Regulatory Update: 31/2007
Issued: 06 September 2007
Background
This Regulatory Update replaces those issued on 19/07/2007 (No. 21/2007) and 02/08/2007 (No. 25/2007).
On 11 July 2007, the European Court of First Instance annulled Commission Directive 2003/112/EC, which provided for the inclusion of paraquat in the list of substances that can be authorised for use in plant protection products in the European Community (Annex I of Directive 91/414/EEC). The effect of the judgment is that paraquat products have to be withdrawn.
The ruling followed a court case initiated by Sweden against the European Commission. The Court’s press release provides more information about the case and the ruling.
Regulatory action
The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) is issuing Notices for products containing paraquat which means that authorisation is suspended from 12 September 2007 for the advertisement, sale, supply, and use of the product by authorisation holders and their agents;
Authorisation remains permitted for storage by any persons and for the advertisement, sale, supply and use of existing stocks, by persons other than the authorisation holder or their agents. We anticipate that such authorisation will end on 11 July 2008 unless a further decision is taken by the Commission.
Products already subject to revocation procedures will be unaffected by this new action, unless the phase-out periods currently permitted extend any element of the authorisation beyond those identified above. In these cases, the phase-out period will be reduced to bring the revocation into line with those identified above.
Contact details
If you have any questions regarding this Regulatory Update, please contact Steve Dobson (TEL: 01904 455891, email: steve.dobson@hse.gsi.gov.uk).