Outlined below is a brief summary of the 106th meeting of the Environmental Panel of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides.
Development of a home and garden scenario for HardSPEC model
An exposure scenario for hard surface use in domestic properties was presented. The Panel considered that the model could be used as a screening tool if more justification for the usage data was provided. It was agreed that a risk envelope approach could be taken if the PECsw (Predicted Environmental Concentration surface water) for domestic use was within that already approved for professional use on hard surfaces.
Development of a surface water exposure model for the HardSPEC railway scenario
An exposure scenario for use on railway lines was presented. The output from the model was compared with a field study, but large differences between measured and predicted concentrations need addressing before the model can be approved.
Policy Update
An update was given on the new authorisation regulations, the Water Framework Directive and the Sustainable Use Directive. An update was also given on metaldehyde, with the Panel being concerned that it may be replaced with an alternative compound resulting in greater environmental impacts.
Bees update and papers for information and a preliminary discussion of technical issues
The Panel considered the general issues posed by the ACP regarding the recent Buglife report, with a full discussion planned for the October 2010 meeting once further information has been gathered.
Bird and Mammal Guidance
A general update was given on the development of the new bird and mammal guidance document. The Panel discussed the importance of post-registration monitoring following risk management decisions for approvals. A concern was raised regarding the absence of CRD at the April 2010 workshop on Protection Goals.
Scale of use project
The outcomes from a workshop on whether scale of use can scientifically be used to justify acceptable risks for birds and mammals were presented. The outcome from this project will be reported at the next Panel meeting.
Update on Elink, Amrap and Modelling
Publications are now available for ELINK (European Union Workshop on Linking Aquatic Exposure and Effects), AMRAP (Aquatic Macrophyte Risk Assessment for Pesticides) and LEMTOX (ecological Models for Regulatory Risk Assessment for Pesticides). It was also noted that CRD is an associate partner in the CREAM project (Mechanistic Effect Models for the Ecological Risk Assessment of Chemicals).
Referrals from the ACP
Response requested for Buglife report - this meeting and also to be discussed at October meeting.
Any other business
The risk assessment process for aquatic macrophytes for auxin inhibitors under current and new data requirements was discussed following a query from the public to Natural England regarding aminopyralid.
An update was given on CRD’s involvement with developing quantitive structure activity relationship (QSAR)s for use in risk assessments.
A query was raised regarding the ability of Member States to implement their own risk mitigation (e.g. indoor use only) for rodenticides independent of decisions made in Europe.
