ECHA reach opinions on harmonised classification and labeling on some pesticides

The Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) of European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has adopted opinions on harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) for some pesticides, one opinion at the Executive Director's request concerning the safety of a plant protection product epoxiconazole.

Methyl-2,5-dichlorobenzoate

RAC agreed with the proposal from Germany to classify a plant growth regulator/fungicide methyl-2,5-dichlorobenzoate as: harmful if swallowed; and as toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. In addition to that, RAC agreed to add a classification for narcotic effects after single exposure.

Cycloxydim

RAC agreed with the proposal from Austria to classify herbicide cycloxydim as flammable according to the Dangerous Substances Directive. Furthermore RAC agreed that cycloxydim should be classified as a reproductive toxicant which is suspected of damaging the unborn child (Repr. 2) rather than the more severe classification proposed by Austria.

Fenpyrazamine

RAC agreed with the proposal from Austria to classify fungicide fenpyrazamine as toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.

Etofenprox

RAC agreed with the proposal from Austria to classify biocidal/insecticide product etofenprox for effects on or via lactation and as very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. RAC also agreed to assign the aquatic classifications already at low concentrations of the substance (M (acute) = 100 and M (chronic) = 1000). RAC did not agree to the proposal from Austria to classify the substance as toxic to the liver and kidneys after repeated exposure.

Muscalure (cis-Tricos-9-ene)

RAC agreed with the proposal from Austria to classify biocidal product muscalure (cis-Tricos-9-ene) for skin sensitisation.

Benzoic acid

Benzoic acid is used as an active substance in biocidal products and in particular as bactericide, viricide and fungicide for the disinfection of materials.

RAC agreed with the proposal from Germany to classify benzoic acid as skin irritant and as seriously damaging the eye. RAC also agreed to classify benzoic acid as causing damage to lungs after repeated exposure via inhalation. However, RAC agreed on a higher category for the latter effect than Germany who originally proposed to classify benzoic acid as a substance which may cause damage to lungs through prolonged or repeated exposure.

Ethephon

Ethephon is an active substance in plant protection products and is used as a plant growth regulator.

Ethephon already has a harmonised classification as: acutely toxic through inhalation and through the dermal route; as causing severe skin burns and eye damage; and as potentially harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects.

RAC agreed with the proposal from the Netherlands to classify ethephon as acutely toxic through the oral route. In addition, RAC concluded that ethephon should be classified as harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects and labelled as corrosive to the respiratory tract.

At the request of ECHA's Executive Director - Epoxiconazole

Epoxiconazole is used as a fungicide in agriculture.

It already had a harmonised classification in Annex VI to the CLP Regulation as: a substance suspected of causing cancer (Carc. 2); suspected of damaging fertility and the unborn child (Repr.2); and as toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. The dossier submitter Sweden proposed a more severe classification for reproductive toxicity (Repr. 1B) and RAC agreed, adopting this opinion originally in March 2010.

At the request of the ECHA Executive Director, RAC assessed the additional information submitted in two stages by industry and at its 23rd.meeting confirmed its previous opinions from March 2010 and March 2011 proposing to classify epoxiconazole as a presumed human reproductive toxicant, which may damage fertility or the unborn child (Repr. 1B).