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 eight times a year in York.
Those present:
Chairman: Professor D Coggon
Members: Professor A Boobis, Mrs S Owen, Professor R Smith, Dr D N Bateman, Dr P McElhatton, Mr C Stopes, Prof G Edwards-Jones, Mr J Orson, Dr V K Tohani, Dr I Grieve, Mrs E Brown
Apologies were received from the following Members: Professor P Calow, Dr C Elcombe, Professor G Matthews
Representatives from the following Departments and other organisations were present: The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), Department of Health (DH), Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Food Standards Agency (FSA), Scottish Agricultural Science Agency (SASA), Environment Agency (EA).
At its meeting on 5 September 2002, the Committee discussed the following issues:
1. Agenda Item 1:
1.1 a) 293rd Meeting: Minutes [ACP 1 (294/2002)]
1.1.1 Agreed
1.1.2 b) 293rd Meeting: Detailed record of discussion [ACP 2 (294/2002)]
1.1.3 Agreed as amended
1.1.4 c) Open Meeting 10 July 2002: [ACP 8 (284/2002)]
1.1.5 The transcript was not yet available
2. Agenda Item 2: Secretary’s Report [ACP 3 (294/2002)]
2.1 The Secretary to the Committee reported on the recommendations made at the meeting held on 11 July 2002.
3. Agenda Item 4: Matters Arising
3.1 a) Fenpropimorph – Human Health Review [ACP 4 (294/2002)]
3.1.1 As a result of the Committee’s discussions at the 293rd meeting, a paper incorporating updated information in the toxicology, operator exposure and residues sections was presented.
3.1.2 The Committee considered the additional information and considered that on the basis of the revised risk assessments, approval for fenpropimorph products could continue subject to a number of data requirements and label amendments detailed in the paper.
3.2 b) Carbosulfan – Human Health Review additional information [ACP 12 (294/2002)]
3.2.1 At the 291st meeting Members had requested further information on residue levels of carbosulfan detected in the monitoring of home grown and imported produce.
3.2.2 The Committee considered additional residue monitoring data. They requested some further analysis of these data, relating potential dietary intakes to the acute reference dose (ArfD). Meanwhile they concluded there was no reason to change their earlier advice that approval be revoked for use on carrots and parsnips.
3.3 c) FSA report – policy on pesticides [ACP 14 (294/2002)]
3.3.1 The paper gave a brief overview of the role of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the authorisation and surveillance of pesticides. The Committee welcomed the opportunity to comment on the paper, and the Chairman undertook to draft a letter to FSA reflecting comments made at the meeting.
3.4 d) Peeling advice and pesticides reviews [ACP 15 (294/2002)]
3.4.1 This paper provided information about a number of pesticides that might be considered for prioritisation within the programme of reviews co-ordinated by the European Commission, including details of rapporteurs now appointed for the EC programme.
3.4.2 The Committee asked to be kept informed about progress with the review.
3.5 Other matters arising from the minutes
3.5.1 Members were updated on progress with various other actions identified from the previous meeting.
3.5.2 A paper was tabled, giving draft answers to questions that had been submitted to the ACP Open Meeting in July. The Chairman undertook to consider these and circulate a revised draft for agreement by members.
4. e) IDS Report of Meeting on 30th July 2002 [ACP 5 (292/2002)]
4.1 The Chairman of the Inter-Departmental Secretariat reported on the issues discussed at its meeting on 30 July 2002.
5 Bone Oil – Further assessment of company case [ACP 11 (294/2002)]
5.1 Item to follow.
6. Aldicarb – EC Review [ACP 7 (294/2002)]
6.1 The UK is Rapporteur Member State for the EC review of aldicarb, a carbamate insecticide and nematicide. The ACP were asked for their advice in order to develop the UK position on this substance with respect to its inclusion in Annex 1 of Directive 91/414/EEC. At the last meeting members had heard that the European Commission had requested further evaluation of data on risks to birds.
6.2 Members discussed issues raised by the company’s risk assessment. They noted that the model used was not a probabilistic risk assessment and that there were a number of uncertainties in the underlying assumptions. Model predictions of impacts on populations were not consistent with reported impacts through the WIIS scheme. Members concluded that there was unlikely to be a significant impact on national populations of birds, but that there might be an impact on bird populations locally. It was also noted that the loss of this compound might affect cropping patterns in some areas. This in turn could have an adverse impact on bird populations through a reduction in over winter food supply.
6.3 The Committee also considered their responsibility in relation to Ministers’ stated intention to halt the decline of certain bird species. These included some species whose populations might be affected by the use of aldicarb.
6.4 Overall, the Committee agreed to advise Ministers on the scientific interpretation of the data provided, drawing attention to the uncertainties involved. The majority of members did not consider it appropriate that the Committee should advise on Annex I listing in these circumstances, taking the view that it should be for Ministers as representatives of society to determine the acceptability of possible local effects. One member felt Ministers should be advised that Annex I listing was not acceptable.
7. Fluazifop-P-Butyl – Review of Additional Studies [ACP 13 (294/2002)]
7.1 Fluazifop-P-butyl is used as a grass herbicide on a wide range of broadleaved crops. In response to the Committee’s previous request, the applicant had submitted a position paper addressing the risks to operators using fluazifop-P-butyl.
7.2 On the basis of this information, the Committee agreed to advise Ministers that the use of fluazifop-P-butyl through field crop sprayers could continue as currently approved, and that approvals for hand-held application could be granted subject to specified requirements for the use of personal protective equipment by operators.
8. Peroxyacetic Acid – Commodity Chemical Evaluation[ACP 9 (294/2002)]
8.1 The Committee considered three uses of the commodity substance peroxyacetic acid (PAA) as a pesticide: for the disinfection of hydroponic growth substrates; as a contact disinfectant for the control of plant pathogens on potato; and for foliar use on potato to protect against fungal infection.
8.2 Members were reminded that an approval may be issued for a minor pesticidal use of a non-formulated technical substance (commodity substance) that would normally have extensive and widespread non-pesticide uses. The sale, supply, storage and advertisement of a commodity substance specifically as a pesticide is not permitted, and the approval, currently granted under Control of Pesticides Regulations (COPR), is for the use as a pesticide only. Members gave some consideration to the usage of PAA in non-pesticidal situations before discussing threshold values and exposure assessments for operators, workers and bystanders.
8.3 Before finalising their advice, the Committee requested further information, to be presented at a future meeting.
9 Dynamec – Departmental Application [ACP 6 (294/2002)]
9.1 ‘Dynamec’ (containing abamectin) is currently approved for use as an acaricide/insecticide in ornamental plant production and on protected tomato, cucumber and lettuce. The Committee was asked to consider an application for full approval of the product, and as part of the application, the setting of a revised ADI (acceptable daily intake) and acute reference dose for abamectin.
9.2 Members agreed a revised derivation of the ADI. However, they asked that ‘rounding’ be based on a standardised approach, ideally in line with that adopted in Europe. Before confirming the ARfD, members wanted to consider the relevant studies in more detail, but they confirmed that at worst the ARfD would be set at the same level as the ADI. Estimates of consumer exposure were below this level.
9.3 Members concluded that approvals could continue. For completeness, the secretariat was asked to consider with relevant members the need for a revised AOEL in the light of the new toxicology data submitted with this application.
10. Date of next meeting: 17 October 2002
10.1 The next meeting of the ACP will take place on Thursday 17 October 2002, in Foss House, York.
11. Any other business:
11.1 Dichlorophen – A Proposal to Reinstate Products Containing Dichlorophen
11.1.2 A partial review of dichlorophen in January 1998, identified a number of data requirements, that the manufacturer undertook to address on behalf of its clients. However in 2001, approvals for all dichlorophen-containing non-agricultural products were revoked on the grounds that the company had not provided an acceptable response to the data requirements set in 1998. In April 2002, the manufacturer had written to HSE stating that they had generated new data (or had commissioned the relevant studies) and requested that approvals be reinstated.
11.1.3 Members concluded that the data should be evaluated prior to considering reinstatement of approvals
11.2 Marketing And Use Directive
11.2.1 Members were informed that the International Marine Organisation Convention had agreed to prohibit the application or re-application of organotin compounds to ships from 1 January 2003, because of concerns about the risk of adverse effects to the environment. The EU was putting these controls in place via an amendment (2002/62/EC) the ‘Marketing and Use’ Directive (76/769/EC). HSE was working with the lead department to ensure that any UK approvals are revoked at the appropriate time.
11.2.2 Members were also informed that action is to be taken under the Marketing and Use Directive to prohibit the use of creosote/coal tar creosote wood preservatives by amateur users by 31 July 2003, because of concerns about carcinogenicity. Again HSE were working with the lead department and would update Members at the next ACP meeting.
11.3 Pesticide Mortality in the US
11.3.1 The Chairman had received a copy of a paper on pesticide mortality in the United States 1979-1998, from another member. A copy would be sent to all other members.
Professor David Coggon
September 2002
