Authorisation procedure for plant protection products
Plant protection products which are applied to protect crops inevitably enter the environment and sometimes also affect food. For this reason, the authorisation and application of plant protection products has been governed for a long time. Compulsory authorisation has existed in Germany since 1968. Demands on plant protection products have increased with the course of time; subsequently they are some of the most thoroughly examined chemical substances.
Plant protection products are assessed and authorised according to the strictest of scientific criteria.
Active substances in plant protection products are assessed in the EU by a community procedure; the authorisation of commercial products is a matter of the individual Member States. In Germany, authorisation must be applied for at the BVL. A comprehensive dossier including data and tests is part of the application. Documentation on physical and chemical characteristics, analytics and efficacy, toxicology, residue behaviour and environmental behaviour is required. The studies must be performed according to specified standards and by certified testing facilities.
The BVL works together with three assessment authorities in the authorisation procedure. The Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI) evaluates efficacy, crop tolerance, practical applications and benefits. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) assesses the impact on human and animal health.The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) assesses the product with regard to possible effects on the environment. At the BVL, the composition and the physico-chemical characteristics of the product in question are assessed. A European directive and technical guidelines stipulate how these assessments are performed.
Further on in the procedure, the BVL hears the scientific advisory committee for the authorisation of plant protection products. Its recommendations, together with the authorities' assessment reports, form the basis for the BVL's decision on authorisation.
The BVL makes sure that plant protection products are used safely.
Together with authorisation, the BVL takes a series of measures to avoid risks and to guarantee safe use: it determines the crops for which the product may be used, stipulates safety advice for packaging, specifies safety intervals between the last application and harvesting, and can impose restrictions and directions for use.
Plant protection products are authorised for a maximum of 10 years. After this period, authorisation has to be reapplied for and a new assessment is performed in keeping with current scientific and technical knowledge.
You can find further information on the safe use of plant protection products under 'practitioners'.