e-@pprovals Introduction

The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) (now part of the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD)) introduced a process that makes digitally signed approvals available to applicants and other interested parties through a secure web site. Approval holders may choose to receive their approvals using this new system. There is no additional charge for this service.

PSD (now part of CRD) ran a joint project with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Crop Protection Association (CPA) members funded by the Government’s Invest to Save Budget. The outcome of the project is a service known as e-@pprovals. The process allows both approval letters and publicly available Notices of Approval to be digitally signed and downloaded securely. Notices of Approval will be publicly available, whilst letters to applicants will only be accessible on the provision of a valid identifier and password.

Document Format

All documents are in Microsoft Word97 format and are digitally signed. The use of a digital signature ensures the legal validity of the document. The digital signature provides a check that the document has not been changed since it was issued and that it was signed by authorised signatories. You can find more information on digital signatures on the Interforum website.

If you do not have Microsoft Word97, you can use the free Word Viewer (approx. 3.8MB download) from the Microsoft site. The digital signatures can be verified using the E-Lock Reader. (approx. 11MB download). Both of these pieces of software are free to users and can be provided by CRD on CD on request to e-approvals@hse.gsi.gov.uk.

Regulatory Update 23/2005 gives instructions on how to submit applications for approval electronically.

How the Process Works

The public area of the site allows any user to view and download public domain documents. To get a better impression of how the new process works, you can look at the publicly available approvals.

All adjuvant authorisations are also downloadable. After you have installed the E-Lock Reader software, you will be able to verify the digital signature by following these instructions.

Download your Company's Approval Letters

If you wish to download your company approval letters using this service, you need to contact CRD to obtain an identifier and password.

Existing Approval Holders must provide a letter from a registration manager known to CRD on company headed paper quoting the COP number of a recently approved application or one in progress. The letter should include the names of other company employees requiring access.

The letter should be addressed to:

Acceptance of the first application from a company new to CRD will prompt the issue of a password and identifier to the applicant.