This paper relates to the assessment of transformation products (i.e. metabolites, degradation or reaction products), which are formed from plant protection products. It addresses a detail in Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 which is not in line with other substance regulations for REACH , medicinal products, and biocides. Our concern: Also transformation products can be hazardous substances. Meanwhile, they are not yet covered within the POP / PBT /vPvB assessment and the approval criteria for active substances. Our proposal: At least transformation products occurring in a relevant amount should be included in the assessment and the approval criteria in the same way as active substances. Veröffentlicht in Scientific Opinion Paper.
In recent decades, with EU and national subsidies for farming in Germany, the conventional cultivation of crops has established itself as the basis of an increasingly intensified agriculture and food production. For many crops, a key requirement for this form of production is the intensive application of chemical plant protection products, on which the system is now practically dependent. This is reflected in the assumption that the amount of chemical plant production products currently used and the frequency of their application represents a “necessary minimum” (in German language: “notwendiges Maß”). However, products that protect crops and benefit farmers may have undesirable impacts on nature and the environment. Even for present-day insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, the general principle remains: No effects (i.e. plant protection) without side-effects (i.e. impacts on nature and the environment). In view of the considerable potential environmental threats they pose and because they are applied in large quantities over ample areas of land, plant protection products may only be used if they have successfully undergone strict testing and approval procedures. In Germany, the German Environment Agency ( UBA ) is responsible for assessing the environmental risks. Veröffentlicht in Position | 01/2016.
Mechanistic effect models (MEM) have become increasingly popular in the field of environmental risk assessment (ERA) of plant protection products. However there remains numerous open questions to risk assessors, modelers, applicants and the public. This report provides a scientific evaluation of 11 MEM or MEM families. It also critically assesses their relevance for ERA (e.g. as a refinement tool), based on case studies. Finally, the report offers suggestions for future improvements in model development for implementation in ERA. Outcomes were discussed with experts from industries, consultancies, academia and agencies at a European symposium (19-20 Sept 2019, Berlin); the presentations and minutes are available in the annex. Veröffentlicht in Texte | 41/2024.
BfN und UBA veröffentlichen Behörden-Leitfaden Pestizide dürfen in Natura-2000-Gebieten nur dann ausgebracht werden, wenn deren Anwendung zuvor in einem naturschutzrechtlichen Genehmigungsverfahren nach EU-Naturschutzrecht auf ihre Verträglichkeit sorgsam geprüft worden ist. Das Bundesamt für Naturschutz (BfN) und das Umweltbundesamt (UBA) haben für die zuständigen Landesbehörden nun eine Handreichung erarbeitet, wie diese Prüfung vorzunehmen ist. Maria Krautzberger, Präsidentin des UBA: „Werden im Wald Insektizide großräumig mit dem Hubschrauber gegen Forstschädlinge gespritzt, kann das seltene Tierarten in Schutzgebieten gefährden. Denn die allermeisten Pflanzenschutzmittel sind auch für andere Tier- und Pflanzenarten giftig. Die Länderbehörden tragen bei ihrer Prüfung deshalb eine sehr große Verantwortung für den Schutz der Umwelt. Letztlich sollte die Anwendung in Schutzgebieten unbedingt die seltene Ausnahme bleiben.“ Natura-2000 -Gebiete, das sind Fauna - Flora - Habitat - und Vogelschutzgebiete, bilden zusammen das EU-Schutzgebietsnetzwerk Natura 2000. Sie sind für den Schutz besonders gefährdeter Tier- und Pflanzenarten, sowie Lebensraumtypen eingerichtet worden. Neue wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse zeigen nun, dass hier der Einsatz von Pestiziden naturschutzfachlich besonders problematisch ist. Das gilt besonders dann, wenn die Mittel mit dem Hubschrauber ausgebracht werden sollen, weil eine solche Anwendung aus der Luft nicht die zielgenaue Behandlung einzelner Bäume erlaubt, sondern zwangsläufig größere Flächen trifft. Sind Beeinträchtigungen eines Natura 2000- Gebietes und seiner Schutzgüter durch den Pestizideinsatz nicht sicher auszuschließen, muss in jedem Fall eine FFH-Verträglichkeitsprüfung durchgeführt werden. Eine Genehmigung darf nur nach gründlicher Untersuchung erteilt werden. Welche genauen naturschutzrechtlichen Regelungen im Genehmigungsverfahren für solche Anwendungen zu beachten sind, erläutern BfN und UBA in ihrem aktualisierten Informationspapier „Pflanzenschutz mit Luftfahrzeugen“. Der Leitfaden ist online verfügbar unter: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen/pflanzenschutz-luftfahrzeugen-naturschutzfachliche . Aufgrund der hohen Risiken für Mensch und Umwelt ist das Sprühen oder Spritzen von Pflanzenschutzmitteln mit Luftfahrzeugen in der EU generell verboten. Ausnahmen sind in Deutschland möglich für die Anwendung im Kronenbereich von Wäldern bei der Prognose bestandsbedrohender Schäden sowie in Steillagen im Weinbau. In Deutschland erfolgt die Ausbringung ausschließlich mit Hubschraubern.
The EU regulation 1107/2009 introduces the substitution principle for active substances in plant protection products that meet certain human or environmental hazard criteria. For products containing such candidates for substitution, their risk must be compared to alternative products during authorisation procedure. This report presents an approach for comparative risk assessment based on a profile of all different endpoints currently used in environmental risk assessment of plant protection products. It further suggests decision criteria for identifying significant differences in environmental risk, which would justify the substitution of a candidate product by a less critical alternative. Veröffentlicht in Texte | 47/2017.
Before a plant protection product is approved for placement on the market, an assessment of the overall acceptability of negative effects on non-target species in arable land and adjacent areas has to be performed according to European guidelines. The guideline for the risk assessment of non-target terrestrial plants (NTTP) is currently revised by the European Food Safety authority (EFSA) to integrate the current state of scientific knowledge and the new requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 to protect biodiversity. In the view of this revision, this report has been conducted to evaluate the actual scientific state of knowledge on effect- and risk assessment for non-target terrestrial plants and to recommend amendments of the current practice in testing and subsequent risk assessment of NTTP. The authors conclude that fundamental issues like the representativeness of the species tested (mostly crop species) and the ecotoxicological endpoints currently used (growth effects in juveniles) are associated with a high degree of uncertainty. These uncertainties must be taken into account in the risk assessment to ensure an adequate level of protection. Also, the analysis of data available would indicate, among other things, that the current risk assessment, limited to growth effects, might not be sufficient to ensure protection of non-target terrestrial plants. Therefore, as a simple risk management measure for PPP causing negative effects on NTTP communities, the authors propose to implement an obligatory in-field no-spray buffer zone, notably without herbicide application. Furthermore, the authors stress the importance of wild arable plants as natural life-support system for many other arable species. They highlight the key position of NTTP in the food chain with birds and mammals on the top. Based on their own research, the authors show indirect effects that PPP, such as herbicides, can have on food availability in agricultural landscapes. In the author’s opinion further applied research is needed to implement all this present information into a scheme for risk assessment and risk management which adequately protects biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, as well as ecosystem services based thereupon. Veröffentlicht in Texte | 20/2015.
The tiered approach for groundwater risk assessment of plant protection products in Europe (FOCUS) is evaluated to ensure whether this approach also represents and covers German environmental conditions. A comparison between modelled leachate concentrations and actual measurements from outdoor lysimeter studies provide evidence that a reliable and safe prediction of leachate concentrations for most of the 104 investigated substances is ensured when harmonized EU endpoints are used for modelling. Based on examples it is demonstrated that inverse modelling of lysimeter studies cannot be recommended as standard method for higher risk assessment due to its complexity and high uncertainty. Veröffentlicht in Texte | 145/2019.
The European scenario Hamburg used in the tiered approach for groundwater risk assessment of plant protection products in Europe (FOCUS) is evaluated to ascertain whether it also represents and covers German environmental conditions. A German wide analysis using geodata provides evidence that national environmental soil and climate conditions are not suitably covered by the European scenario Hamburg. A national scenario development is scientifically recommended to appropriately protect groundwater against plant protection products in Germany. Model uncertainties and further scientific investigations are critically discussed in this context. Veröffentlicht in Texte | 146/2019.
In previous investigations it was demonstrated that the tiered approach for groundwater risk assessment of plant protection products in Europe (FOCUS) also represents and covers German environmental conditions. However, since a new approach of endpoint selection for groundwater modelling in the EU was implemented 2015, a recalculation of the results is required. A comparison of recalculated leachate concentrations with measurements from lysimeter studies provide evidence that a safe prediction by modelling for a high percentage of the investigated substances is still ensured. No significant differences are observed between modelling results using new EU and national endpoints. Veröffentlicht in Texte | 147/2019.
In the national assessment for authorisation in Germany the leaching behaviour of a plant protection product is determined in a stepwise procedure in accordance with FOCUS groundwater report (2009). The recommendations given in this paper here are related to tier 1 and tier 2, only. A further publication is planned for the tier 3 and tier 4 assessments in ac-cordance with the principles provided by FOCUS. Veröffentlicht in Texte | 56/2011.
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