WHAT SUBSTANCES ARE BANNED AND AUTHORISED IN THE EU MARKET?

In an ambitious work programme launched in 1992, the European Commission started a review process for all active ingredients used in plant protection products (pesticides) within the European Union. In a review process based on scientific assessments, each applicant had to prove that a substance could be used safely regarding a set of criteria comprehending human health, environment, ecotoxicity and residues in the food chain. If a pesticide is approved under 91/414/EEC it is placed on Annex 1 of the Directive, and may be used throughout Member States. If it is not approved it might, nevertheless, be granted "essential use" derrogations for some crops and Member States. In other cases, the substance is banned or severely restricted without any space for "essential use" derrogations.

Table 1 presents a summary of the situation. The total number of pesticides is as of October 2006, the date of the last update made by DG Health and Consumer Protection. The number of substances banned and authorised has been updated by PAN Europe on the basis of decisions taken by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. In October 2006 there were 1,141 substances in total (966 existing substances in 1991 plus 43 other substances considered in the revision and 132 new substances).

Table 1 - Summary of the situation

Source: DG Health and Consumer Protection

SUBSTANCES BANNED IN THE EU MARKET

Table 2 presents pesticides banned or severely restricted in EU as a consequence of the application of Directive 79/117/EEC, Council Regulation 805/2004/EC and Directive 91/414/EEC (49 in total). Directive 79/117/EEC can be regarded as the predecessor of Directive 91/414/EEC and concerns the prohibition of active substances which, even if applied in an appropriate manner could give rise to harmful effects. Council Regulation 850/2004/EC regards persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and implements the Stockholm Convention in EU.

Council Regulation 304/2003/EC concerns the export and import of dangerous chemicals and implements the Rotterdam Convention. It provides for the notification of importers of any products banned under Directive 79/117/EEC or included in a Prior Informed Consent (PIC) list of the Rotterdam Convention. This Regulation does not itself ban any chemicals, but with amending Directives (1212/2003 and 775/2004) reflects the regulatory status of chemicals under other EU legislation (79/117/EEC, 91/414/EEC, 850/2004/EEC or the Biocides Directive). To see the regulatory decisions, go to DG Health and Consumer Protection website.

Table 2 – Pesticides banned or severely restricted in the European Union

Source: DG Health and Consumer Protection

* Pentachlorophenol: Ban of concentration equal to or greater than 0.1% by mass, except in substances and preparations intended for use in industrial installations: in the treatment of wood; in the impregnation of heavy-duty textiles; as a synthesising and/or processing agent in industrial processes. EU production is banned under Directive 76/769/EEC.

SUBSTANCES BANNED FROM THE EU MARKET WITH "ESSENTIAL USE" DEROGATIONS

Table 3 presents substances that have been phased out in the EU under the authorisations Directive 91/414/EEC. These active substances have been granted a limited extension of use on certain crops most until the end of December 2007 when they must come off the market.

Pesticides with essential uses have not been given EU-wide approval. Certain countries have been given an extention (or derogation) for one or more essential uses for the active ingredient on specific crops. Member States are expected to explore alternatives to their use and to report on progress in substituting less harmful products or methods.

To see the regulatory decisions, go to DG Health and Consumer Protection website.

Table 3 - Pesticides withdrawn from the EU with "essential use" derogations

Source: DG Health and Consumer Protection, Pesticide Safety Directorate, Agrow magazine

SUBSTANCES WHERE REGISTRATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN UNDER DIRECTIVE 91/414/EEC AND ITS AMENDMENTS

A substancial number of substances (362 in total) are no longer used in Member States because no manufacturer applied for registration. Table 4 lists substances that have failed to make it onto Annex 1 of Directive 91/414/EEC and have been withdrawn from the market. In some cases this may be because the manufacturer has not supplied the data required to extend registration.

Download Table 4 [Excel 110KB]

SUBSTANCES AUTHORISED IN EU

Since the beginning of the revision process, 147 substances were approved and placed in Annex 1 of Directive 91/414/EEC. Table 5 depicts the substances approved and the category. To see the regulatory decisions, go to DG Health and Consumer Protection website.

Table 5 - Substances authorised in the EU market

Source: DG Health and Consumer Protection, Pesticide Safety Directorate, Agrow magazine

SUBSTANCES WITH DECISION PENDING

Besides the 40 substances approved, there are 489 substances in the market waiting for a decision and being used throughout the EU. Table 6 depicts the substances with decision pending, category and status under Directive 91/414/EEC.

Download Table 6 [Excel 110KB]

LINKS

- DG Health and Consumer Protection webpage on Evaluation & authorisation http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/plant/protection/evaluation/index_en.htm

- Pesticides Safety Directorate (UK) webpage on European news http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/food_industry.asp?id=692

- European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) webpage on Pesticide risk assessment peer review http://www.efsa.eu.int/science/praper/catindex_en.html