Please note: these minutes are published in draft until the following meeting of the ACP and are subject to amendment.
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 G Ayres
Members: Ms A Baker, Prof C Brown, Prof G Hawksworth, Ms R Howell, Dr A Leake, Dr G M McPherson, Prof L Maltby, Prof P Matthiessen, Prof C Ockleford. Dr D Osborn, Dr W Parker, Dr A Povey, Dr D Ray.
Apologies: Dr J Cherrie, Prof C V Howard, Prof J Parry, Dr H Rees.
Written comments received from: Dr J Cherrie, Prof C V Howard, Prof J Parry
Representatives from the following Departments and other organisations were present: The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Food Standards Agency (FSA), Health Protection Agency (HPA), Scottish Agricultural Science Agency (SASA), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), National Assembly of Wales Agriculture Department (NAWAD).
At its meeting on 11th March 2008, the Committee discussed the following issues:
1. Agenda Item 1: Minutes and Detailed record of discussion
1.1 a) 329th Meeting: Minutes [ACP 1 (330/2008)]
1.1.1 Agreed as drafted (link to minutes of 329th meeting)
1.2 b) 329th Meeting: Detailed record of discussion [ACP 2 (330/2008)]
1.2.1 Agreed as drafted
2. Agenda Item 2: Secretary’s report. [ACP 3 (330/2008)]
The Secretary to the Committee reported on the recommendations made at previous meetings
3. Agenda Item 3: Matters arising
3.1 a) Pyroxsulam [ACP 6 (330/2008)]
3.1.1 At the 329th Meeting of the ACP, it was requested that further data be provided.
3.1.2 Members noted that written comments had been received from members unable to attend. They agreed that subject to confirmation that the mutagenicity data on the metabolite was acceptable and to a satisfactory PSD evaluation of the outstanding ecotoxicology studies, a provisional approval could be recommended without further consideration at an ACP meeting.
3.2 b) Reply from Chair of HSC [ACP 14 (330/2008)]
3.2.1 Members considered correspondence from the Chair of the Health & Safety Commission (HSC), and remained concerned about resources allocated to pesticide incidents.
3.2.2 It was agreed that the Chairman would write further to HSC to stress the importance of surveillance and monitoring of pesticides in the effective function of the regulatory process, and seeking harmonised methods of working together.
3.3 c) Pesticide Container Design Guidance [ACP 17 (330/2008)]
3.3.1 At the 329th Meeting Members had asked PSD to prepare a paper with the latest available guidance on pesticide container design. The ACP agreed that this guidance was significantly out of date, and required updating to take account of current legislation and environmental concerns.
3.3.2 Members agreed that a short-life working group should be formed to discuss a comprehensive update of container design guidance.
3.4 d) Other Matters Arising [ACP 5 (328/2007)]
3.4.1 Members heard that the applicant had just submitted some further information on Aclonifen, which was discussed at the 329th Meeting.
3.4.2 Members noted the progress on other matters arising from previous meetings.
4. Application for UK Provisional approval (PPPR) for ‘Crusoe’ containing the new active substance Ipconazole [ACP 7 (330/2008)]
4.1 Ipconazole is a new triazole fungicide formulated as ‘Crusoe’ a micro-emulsion (ME) seed-treatment proposed for use on winter and spring wheat and barley seed. The UK is also rapporteur for inclusion of this active substance in Annex I of Directive 91/414/EEC. The evaluation of ipconazole was previously discussed at the November 2007 ACP (meeting 328) where a number of issues requiring clarification were identified. The applicant had provided further information to address these issues.
4.2 Members discussed the additional information and agreed reference doses for Ipconazole to allow a recommendation to grant provisional approval.
5. 2007 Report from PIAP [ACP 8 (330/2008)]
5.1 Members received the latest annual report from the Pesticides Incidents Appraisal Panel (PIAP), and noted that although there was no clear trend, there were fewer reports of incidents affecting human health.
5.2 The Committee suggested improvements in presentation that may improve the clarity of the report.
5.3 It was agreed that the Chairman would write to the Chairman of PIAP , detailing Members’ views, and suggesting possible improvements.
6. Draft Annual Report [ACP 9 (330/2008)]
6.1 Members considered a draft of the Annual Report prepared by the Secretariat, and welcomed the new format that had been adopted. It was agreed that Members would consider amendments and correspond with the Secretariat.
7. Consultation on the proposed consolidation and simplification of plant protection and pesticide legislation in Scotland [ACP 16 (330/2008)]
7.1 Members agreed that a draft response be prepared based on their response to the equivalent consultations for England and Wales .
8. Minutes of the Environmental Panel Meeting [ACP 11 (330/2008)]
8.1 The Chair of the Environmental Panel presented a short report on the meeting held on 19th February 2008 .
9. Date of Next Meeting
9.1 Tuesday 13th May 2008 , commencing 11.00am , at the Monk Bar Hotel, York.
10 Any Other Business
10.1 Members accepted a paper on ACP Consultation/advice on approvals [ACP 15 (330/2007)], and asked for it to be added to the ACP website once some minor drafting changes had been made.
10.2 Members had received an invitation to visit a pesticide development company to view facilities and procedures.
10.3 It was agreed that the 2008 Open Meeting would take place on Monday 10 November at the Monk Bar Hotel, York. Members heard that the workshop format used for the 2007 meeting had been popular with attendees, and that a similar arrangement would be adopted in 2008. Members would advise the Secretariat of suggested topics for discussion.
J G Ayres
