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.
Please note: these minutes are published in draft until the following meeting of the ACP and are subject to amendment
Those Present:
Chairman: Prof R Smith
Members: Dr D N Bateman, Dr J Cherrie, Mr J Clarke, Dr R Clutterbuck, Dr C Elcombe, Dr I Grieve, Prof G Hawksworth, , Ms R Howell, Dr A Leake, Prof D Macdonald, Prof L Maltby, Dr G M McPherson, Dr D Osborn, Dr R Waring.
Apologies: Prof D Coggon, Prof. D R Coleman, Dr C V Howard, Ms D McCrea, Dr P McElhatton, Dr V Tohani
Written comments received from: Prof D Coggon
Representatives from the following Departments and other organisations were present: The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Food Standards Agency (FSA), Department of Health (DoH), Scottish Agricultural Science Agency (SASA) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), National Assembly of Wales Agriculture Department (NAWAD), English Nature (EN), Rothamsted Research Centre (RRes)
At its meeting on 17th March 2005, the Committee discussed the following issues:
1. Agenda Item 1: Minutes and Detailed Record of Discussion
1.1a) 311th Meeting: Minutes [ACP1 (312/2005)]
1.1.1 Agreed as amended.
1.2 b) 311th Meeting: Detailed record of discussion [ACP2 (312/2005)]
1.2.1 Agreed as amended.
2. Agenda Item 2: Secretary’s Report. [ACP 3 (312/2005)]
2.1 The Secretary to the Committee reported on the recommendations made at previous meetings.
3. Agenda Item 3: Matters Arising
3.1 a) Company submission of further information regarding the toxicology assessment for Metrafenone, as requested by the ACP. [ACP 5 (312/2005)]
3.1.1 This paper detailed the applicant’s response to specific questions from the ACP, relating to observed liver-enzyme effects.
3.1.2 The applicant had been unable to identify a clear and unambiguous mechanism for the toxicity seen, but members agreed that the no effect level provided a clear threshold and that there was no genotoxicity associated with this compound, supporting their previous advice (ACP16 (307/2004) and ACP4 (301/2003)) that an approval was acceptable.
3.2 b) First evaluation for the inclusion of cyflufenamid in Annex I of 91/414/EEC and UK provisional approval (PPPR) of cyflufenamid for use as an agricultural fungicide on cereals in the product ‘NF-149 EW’ [ACP 11 (312/2005)]
3.2.1 The Committee discussed a paper submitted by the applicant, in response to a request from the ACP at the March 2004 meeting, for further information on the toxicology of the compound.
3.2.2 Members concluded that the further information now provided enabled them to set reference doses for this compound, and to advise Ministers that provisional approval for the product ‘NF-149 EW’ for control of powdery mildew in cereals would be acceptable.
3.3 c) Flonicamid: company case regarding approval for use on apples and pears [ACP 14 (312/2005)]
3.3.1 The Committee considered the company case submitted in response to ACP advice that further data would be required to support these uses.
3.3.2 Members considered that the further information provided sufficient clarification to enable them to recommend approval for use on apples and pears.
3.4 d) Review of the wildlife and countryside act 1981: consultation [ACP 16 (312/2005)]
3.4.1 The Committee agreed the wording of their response to this consultation.
3.5 e) Other Matters Arising [ACP 9 (312/2005)]
3.5.1 Members noted the progress made on matters discussed at previous meetings.
4. Second Evaluation of ‘Breck-a-sol containing 99.9% v/v CL AIL 0021 (garlic juice concentrate) as an Acaricide for Control of Red Poultry Mite in Poultry Houses. [ACP 6 (312/2005)]
4.1 Following a previous unsuccessful application in April 2003 for ‘Breck-a-Sol’, a concentrated product for dilution to 1.5 % garlic juice and professional application by spray, the applicant submitted further data to address the Committee’s outstanding concerns on chemistry, worker, consumer and environmental exposure, and efficacy.
4.2 On the basis of this submission, Members agreed that information regarding chemistry and the assessments of worker, consumer and environmental risk were acceptable. Members also agreed that the efficacy data were sufficient to support a commercial approval. However, they considered that the label should be re-worded to emphasise further the limited nature of the efficacy claim, reflecting the need for Breck-a-Sol to contact the red mites to achieve efficacy. No further efficacy data were required unless the applicant sought to extend efficacy claims. With some product stability data still outstanding, Members agreed to advise Ministers that provisional approval should be granted.
5. Bio-monitoring for Chromium and Arsenic in Timber Treatment Plant Workers Exposed to CCA Wood Preservatives. [ACP 7 (312/2005)]
5.1 Members had previously considered a review of CCA in wood preservation in September 1999 and had agreed that continuing approval should be dependent on further data. This included further information on biological monitoring. As a result, a research study had been conducted to examine the profile of urinary arsenic (of inorganic origin) and urinary chromium in British workers using CCA in industrial pre-treatment plants.
5.2 The current paper reported on the approach used in the study and presented the bio-monitoring results. The paper had previously been considered and agreed by the Medical and Toxicological Panel of the ACP in April 2004. The main findings showed that workers exposed to CCA wood preservatives had concentrations of inorganic arsenic and chromium in urine that were significantly higher than those from non-occupationally exposed people. However, the concentrations were below biological monitoring guidance values that would indicate exposure at UK occupational exposure limits for chromium and arsenic.
5.3 Members considered the data presented in the paper and were reassured that worker exposure was within acceptable levels. They agreed that no further regulatory action was necessary and noted that chromium and arsenic were likely to be phased out over the next two years as they had not been supported for use in wood preservation under the EU Biocidal Products Directive.
6. Draft ACP Annual Report 2004 [ACP 8 (312/2005)]
6.1 Members noted that some of the declarations of interest presented in the draft report were not strictly required in accordance with the ACP code of practice as they were not interests in the pesticides industry as defined in the ACP code of practice.
6.2 Members agreed to provide any amendments to the draft report in writing to the secretary.
7. Aquatic Use of Diquat [ACP 13 (312/2005)]
7.1 The Committee heard that there are a number of serious problems being caused by invasive alien weed species such as Australian Swamp Stonecrop (Crassula helmsii) and that diquat offers the most effective form of control. The Environment Agency explained that they were working with others to put forward a case to the European Commission to allow use of diquat in and around water, but as yet this work was incomplete. This use of diquat has previously had approval in UK.
7.2 After considering the options available, Members concluded that they could advise Ministers that there may be a case for an emergency authorisation for aquatic use of diquat. However, the ACP could not complete an appropriate environmental risk assessment on which to advise Ministers because the necessary information was not available.
8. Consultation on the National Pesticide Strategy [ACP 15 (312/2005)]
8.1 Members of the Committee agreed to pass their comments on this consultation document to the secretary for preparation of a draft response to be considered at the next meeting in May.
9. Date of Next Meeting
9.1 Thursday 26 May 2005
10. Any Other Business:
10.1 Maximum residue level regulations [ACP 20 (312/2005)]
10.1.1 Members heard that the Pesticides (maximum residue levels in crops, food and feeding stuffs) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 had been amended a number of times and that the Minister had recently agreed with the House of Lords Merits committee that they should be consolidated and re-laid. A similar exercise had been agreed in Scotland. Members agreed that consolidation of this existing legislation was required and that the approach adopted was a good one.
10.2 Date of the 2005 open meeting
10.2.1 The secretary announced that it was planned to hold the 2005 open meeting of ACP on Wednesday 16 November. Further details would be discussed at a future meeting.
10.3 First UK approval for the use of acetic acid [ACP 12 (312/2005)]
10.3.1 The Chairman drew attention to this paper, which had been provided for members’ information. It had been agreed some years ago that compounds approved through other government advisory committees would be evaluated for use as pesticides via the departmental procedure. Acetic acid was an approved food additive, and thus this application for approval had been considered by departments. Members were reassured that any problems identified by the departments would be referred to the ACP for advice.
10.3.2 Members noted that whilst in the case of acetic acid there were no concerns that had prevented approval, this could not be assumed to be the case for all compounds approved for other uses such as food additives. In particular members noted the importance of considering the environmental risk assessment with particular care.
10.4 Official recognition
10.4.1
One member noted that whilst there was a system of official recognition in place for agricultural trials organisations, there was no such system available for biocides. The secretariat advised that there was no requirement for this under the biocides regulation, but that the member concerned might wish to write to the Biocides Consultative Committee setting out his concerns.
Prof David Coggon
May 2005
