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 Ayres
Members: Prof C Brown; Dr J Cocker; Ms J Dean; Mr R Davis; Dr M Hare;Mr P Jackson; Prof P Matthiessen; Prof C Ockleford; Dr W Parker; Dr A Povey; Dr H Rees; Dr R Shore; Dr S Waring; Dr S Wilkinson.
Apologies: Dr C Harris; Prof G M Hawksworth
Written comments received from: Dr C Harris
Representatives from the following Departments and other organisations were present: The Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD); Food Standards Agency (FSA); Science & Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA); Health & Safety Executive (HSE); Health Protection Agency (HPA).
In opening the meeting, the Chairman welcomed new members to the Committee and thanked retiring members for their advice over their term of office. Members wished Prof Hawksworth a speedy recovery.
At its meeting on 15 November 2011 the Committee discussed the following issues:
Agenda Item 1: Minutes and Detailed record of discussion
1a) 350th Meeting: Minutes [ACP 1 (352/2011)]
1.1.1. Agreed as drafted. (link to minutes of 350th Meeting)
1.2b) 350th Meeting:Detailed record of discussion [ACP 2 (352/2011)]
1.2.1 Agreed as drafted.
Agenda Item 2:Secretary’s Report [ACP 3 (352/2011)]
2.1 The Secretary to the Committee reported on the recommendations made at previous meetings.
Agenda Item 3: Matters arising
3.1a) Trichoderma [ACP 5/1 (352/2011)]
3.1.1 The committee considered additional data generated to address the points raised at the earlier consideration of this product (link to minutes of 348 meeting)
3.1.2 Members considered that the data addressed their previous concerns and recommended that provisional authorisation could now be granted.
3.2b) Other Matters Arising [ACP 5 (350/2011)]
3.2.1 The Secretary reported on matters arising from previous meetings.
Agenda Item 4: Application for first inclusion of penthiopyrad (ISO proposed) in Annex I of 91/414/EEC and for UK provisional approval (PPPR), in the product ‘DPX LEM17 20EC’ formulated as an emulsifiable concentrate containing 200 g a.s/L Penthiopyrad [ACP 7 (352/2011)]
4.1 One Member declared a non-specific, non-personal interest in written comments.
4.2 Members considered an application for approval of ‘DPX LEM17 20EC’, a new fungicide containing Penthiopyrad for use on cereals to control a range of diseases.The UK is also Rapporteur for inclusion of this active substance in Annex I of 91/414/EEC.
4.3 Members concluded that they needed some additional data to complete the terrestrial ecotoxicology assessment and agreed that they could not recommend approval at this time. Further advice would be provided to the applicant to help resolve the issue. Members agreed that they could consider the additional information by email if necessary.
Agenda Item 5: The Open Meeting [ACP 8 (352/2011)]
5.1 Members agreed that the open meeting had been very successful, it was well attended and some excellent discussion had taken place.
5.2 Members agreed to complete the short note of the meeting to be added to the website.
5.3 It was agreed that the outputs from the discussions:on bees would be fed into the EFSA discussions:on climate change would be passed to Dept of Health as an addendum to the committee’s initial letter sent during the summer;and on the PAHES report would be considered as the draft report was finalised and advice passed to Ministers.
Agenda Item 6: COT and COC Statements on Paraoccupational Exposure to Pesticides [ACP 19 (352/2011)]
6.1 Members welcomed the statements from both these advisory committees.They summarised some interesting and important focused literature reviews.
6.2 The ACP noted that there were three outcomes that could form the basis for future targeted research, and agreed to respond to both committees accordingly.
Agenda Item 7: The Annual Report 2011 [ACP 18 (352/2011)]
7.1 Members considered a number of possible topics for inclusion in the 2011 Annual Report, and agreed to confirm their choice by email.
Agenda Item 8:Environmental Panel
8.1 Members heard a section of the Environmental Panel had considered the outputs from recent research on the degree to which mesocosm studies are representative of aquatic ecosystems in the agricultural environment.Further analysis was anticipated and the work would be considered at a future Panel meeting.
Agenda Item 9: Medical & Toxicology Panel
9.1 The Committee heard a verbal report of the latest meeting of the Medical and Toxicology meeting.Work had focused on the annual literature review.
Agenda Item 10: Bystander Risk Assessment (BRAWG) Working Group
10.1 The Chairman updated Members on the work of the BRAWG Working Group.The report is being drafted and will be discussed at a public meeting on 7 December at Nobel House, London.The likelihood is that the group will advise that UK assessments for bystander risk should follow the approach outlined by EFSA.
Agenda Item 11: Date of next meeting
11.1 ACP 353 will take place on Tuesday 24 January 2012 at 11 am in Foss House, York.
Agenda Item 12: Any other business
12.1 The Committee considered items for information received since the last Meeting.
12.2 Members heard an update on progress with the legislation required to support a change in status for the Committee.
12.3 CRD thanked Prof Ayres for his excellent Chairmanship over the past six years.
