Brussels, 06/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is preparing guidelines for an assessment of environmental risks linked to polluting emissions of plant protection products used for crops grown in greenhouses or under cover. On 4 June, it launched a public online consultation process on a draft policy document. All those concerned - the scientific community, operators seeking market approval for their plant protection products and the relevant authorities - are invited to submit their comments until 30 July 2013.
The draft document prepared by the EFSA pesticides unit provides for guidelines on ways in which to cluster and rank emissions of active substances of plant protection products for each relevant environmental category depending on whether those substances are emitted into the soil, onto the surface of water or in groundwater. It also indicates elements that should be taken into account in exposure scenarios used in risk assessment, not only for crops grown in soil but also for those grown without soil.
EFSA guidelines are required as part of the review of active substances for plant health products in accordance with review of European Regulation 1107/2009/EC) concerning the marketing of plant protection and health products. (AN/transl.jl)