The European Community (EC) Pesticides Review and Essential Uses
The EC review programme has resulted in the withdrawal of many older substances that are not being supported for commercial as well as safety reasons. This loss of active substances particularly affects minor crops and uses. Against this background the Commission has made provision for certain 'essential uses' to be temporarily maintained. This provides the opportunity for alternatives to be developed.
Most essential uses expired at the end of 2007. This page has been updated to list the remaining essential uses in the EC.
- 25 April 2006 Commission Decision 2006/302 (pdf, 3 pages) - non-inclusion of methabenzthiazuron, essential uses granted (not UK).
- 20 December 2006 Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1980/2006 (pdf, 3 pages) - laying down transitional measures amending Regulation 2076/2002 and Decisions 2001/245/EC, 2002/928/EC and 2006/797/EC as regards the continued use of certain active substances not included in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC by reason of the accession of Bulgaria.
- 21 June 2007 Commission Decision 2007/442/EC (pdf, 8 pages) - further non-inclusions of stage 4 substances with essential uses. UK interest - non-inclusion of formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide with UK essential uses and peroxyacetic (peracetic) acid with UK essential uses. Essential uses for peracetic acid and products containing this substance such as ‘Jet 5’ (which also contains hydrogen peroxide) will be allowed until December 2010 . The UK essential uses are for flower bulbs, potato tubers and disinfection of glasshouses, warehouses and agricultural tools and equipment.
- 22 July 2008 Commission Decision 2008/317/EC (pdf, 3 pages) - non-inclusion of rotenone, extract from Equisetum and chinin-hydrochloride. Essential uses only granted for rotenone. UK interest with essential uses granted for apple, pear, peach, cherry, ornamentals and potato.
- 13 July 2009 Council Decision 2009/562/EC (pdf, 5 pages) - non-inclusion of metam (soil sterilant) with essential uses. UK essential uses on soils for various crops.
|
Active Substance |
Pest |
Crops |
Expiry date |
Use-up date of 'non-essential' uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fungicide/nematicide/ disinfectant |
Flower bulbs, potato tubers and disinfection of glasshouses, warehouses and agricultural tools and equipment. |
31/12/2010 |
22/12/2008 |
|
|
Fungicide/nematicide/ disinfectant |
Flower bulbs, potato tubers and disinfection of glasshouses, warehouses and agricultural tools and equipment. |
31/12/2010 |
22/12/2008 |
|
|
Insecticide/acaricide |
Apple, pear, peach, cherry, ornamentals and potato |
31/10/2011 |
10/10/2009 |
|
|
Metam |
Soil sterilant |
Glasshouse soils, nursery soils, outdoor soils and potting soils prior to planting of fruit crops, vegetable crops, potatoes, herbs, flowers, bulbs, ornamental plants, perennial plants. |
31/12/2014 |
13/01/2010 |