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; Prof J Parry; Dr H Rees.
Apologies: Dr J Cherrie; Prof C V Howard; Dr W Parker; Dr A Povey; Dr D Ray.
Written comments received from: Dr J Cherrie; Dr A Povey; Dr R Shore; Environment Agency.
Representatives from the following Departments and other organisations were present: The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), Food Standards Agency (FSA), Scottish Agricultural Science Agency (SASA), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Health & Safety Executive (HSE), National Assembly of Wales Agriculture Department (NAWAD), Department for Agriculture & Rural Development Northern Ireland (DARDNI).
Prof D Kirkland and Dr P Batten representatives for the applicant for item 4, and Dr A Buckle representative for the applicant for item 7, were in attendance to present their case to Members.
At its meeting on 16th September 2008, the Committee discussed the following issues:
1. Agenda Item 1: Minutes and Detailed record of discussion
1.1 a) 331st Meeting: Minutes [ACP 1 (333/2008)]
1.1.1 Agreed as drafted (minutes of 331st meeting)
1.2 b) 330th Meeting: Detailed record of discussion [ACP 2 (333/2008)]
1.2.1 Agreed as drafted, subject to the clarification of two items
2. Agenda Item 2: Secretary’s report. [ACP 3 (333/2008)]
2.1 The Secretary to the Committee reported on the recommendations made at previous meetings
3. Agenda Item 3: Matters arising
3.1 The Secretary reported on matters arising from previous meetings.
3.2 Members heard that the Secretariat would update and re-issue the ACP Openness and Accessibility questionnaire at the time of the Open Meeting.
4. Ethaboxam [ACP 10 (333/2008)]
4.1 The application for Ethaboxam had been presented to the ACP at the 315th Meeting in September 2005. Further information was discussed at various meetings in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Members heard that the applicants had now submitted two further studies in support of their application.
4.2 The Chairman welcomed Prof D Kirkland and Dr P Batten who gave a short presentation on behalf of the applicant.
4.3 Members agreed that the data now available confirmed that there was a clear no effect level for aneugenicity. However they noted that there were no data available for germ cells. In view of the uncertainty remaining about possible greater sensitivity of germ cells, a higher assessment factor would be required in the absence of further data.
4.4 The ACP agreed that no approval could yet be recommended because the estimated exposures exceeded the possible reference doses that could be set based on the available data
5. HSE Report into operator and worker exposure arising from the use of Alpha C 6ED [ACP 11 (333/2008)]
5.1 Members heard that HSE had conducted a study into the exposure of workers following a small number of reported ill health effects from forestry workers planting saplings treated with Alpha C 6ED.
5.2 Members noted that exposure was low, and the local health effects seen were well-known and of a short term nature. These symptoms were not associated with any long term health effects. Members commented on the importance of following the current HSE guidance in avoiding such effects but agreed that the remote locations added to the difficulty of achieving this.
5.3 The ACP agreed that the approvals for the product could continue, but that the Chairman would write to the Forestry Commission and the forestry industry to re-emphasise the importance of following Health & Safety Executive guidance on working practices.
6. Thiamethoxam Monitoring Data [ACP 9 (333/2008)]
One member declared a non-personal specific interest and took no part in the discussion.
6.1 At the May 2006 meeting of the ACP, Members agreed to advise Ministers that provisional approval could be granted for ‘Cruiser SB’, a seed treatment containing the insecticide thiamethoxam, subject to a post-approval monitoring scheme for birds and mammals (link to minutes of meeting 319)
6.2 Members confirmed that data on wild birds were acceptable but that the mammal monitoring study should be repeated as sample and planting times achieved in the first trial resulted in inadequate data being obtained
7. Application for an experimental efficacy trial involving the use of Brodifacoum in and around farm buildings (including use outdoors) in an area of second-generation anticoagulant resistance [ACP 19 (333/2008)]
7.1 Members considered an application for authorisation of limited experimental use of brodifacoum as part of a series of efficacy/resistance breaking trials. Brodifacoum is currently restricted to indoor use in the UK due to risks to non-target wildlife.
7.2 The Chairman welcomed Dr A Buckle, who gave a short presentation on behalf of the applicant.
7.3 Members felt that the possible scientific benefits from the trials were not significant enough to justify the local risk to non-target wildlife. They suggested possible alternative approaches to gather the data required.
8. Revision of ACP Publications Scheme [ACP 6 (333/2008)]
8.1 The Secretary explained that the proposed revision of the ACP Publications Scheme was designed to ensure that the scheme was compliant with the model publication scheme approved by the Information Commissioner.
8.2 Members agreed the proposals subject to minor change.
9. Human Health Strategy Meeting [ACP 7 (333/2008)]
9.1 ACP Members who attended the first Human Health Action Plan Implementation Group meeting held on 23rd July 2008 reported to the Committee on discussions held.
10. Report from the Medical and Toxicology Panel [ACP 12 (333/2008)]
10.1 The Chair of the Medical and Toxicology Panel gave a verbal report of discussions of the Meeting held on 15th September 2008.
11. Plans for the ACP Open Meeting 2008 [ACP 8 (333/2008)]
11.1 Members received a paper outlining proposals for the ACP Open Meeting to be held on 10th November 2008 . This was agreed subject to a minor timetabling change, and the extension of the remit for one of the afternoon working groups.
12. Date of Next Meeting
12.1 ACP 9th Annual Open Meeting Monday 10th November 2008 followed by ACP 334 on Tuesday 11th November 2008, commencing 10.00am, both at the Monk Bar Hotel, York.
13. Any Other Business
13.1 Members considered the items for information received since the last meeting.
J G Ayres
