AgroPages-ECHA proposed to approve two biocides-Agricultural news

The European Chemical Agency’s Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) has adopted the opinions on the approval of two active ingredients used as biocide.

Hexaflumuron, from Dow AgroSciences, is an insecticide which is intended to be used for controlling termites by professionals. Hexaflumuron is formulated in solid cellulose baits and is used in two types of tamper resistant bait stations – wall mounted (indoors) and below ground (outdoors). Wall stations are glued and screwed into the walls and can only be opened with a screw driver; ground stations are locked and can only be opened using a dedicated tool. The BPC proposed that as hexaflumuron is considered to be very persistent, very bioaccumulative and toxic exposure of non-target animals and the environment should be minimised by considering and applying all appropriate risk mitigation measures. These include the restriction to professional use only and the obligation to use confined bait stations.  

Potassium sorbate is used by professionals as a wood preservative for freshly cut wood. Target organisms are staining fungi, mould and storage rot. The BPC concluded that, for this intended application (pallets made of the treated wood exclusively used for food transportation and storage, stored protected from weathering) no unacceptable risks were observed in the environmental risk assessment.