AgroPages-EU approved clothianidin as biocide-Agricultural news

The European Commission has approved the neonicotinoid insecticide, clothianidin for used as biocide from October 1, 2016, valid for ten years.

The Commission noted that product assessment shall pay particular attention to the exposures, the risks and the efficacy linked to any uses covered by an application for authorisation, but not addressed in the Union level risk assessment of the active substance.

Member States are required to ensure that authorisations are subject to the following conditions:

(1) Products shall be used with appropriate personal protective equipment where exposure cannot be reduced to an acceptable level by other means.

(2) Products shall not be authorised for uses in animal housings where emission to a sewage treatment plant or direct emission to surface water cannot be prevented, unless it can be demonstrated that risks to the environment can be reduced to an acceptable level by other means.

(3) Due to the risks identified for the soil compartment, products shall not be authorised for uses in animal housings others than for beef cattle, unless it can be demonstrated that risks to the environment can be reduced to an acceptable level.

(4) For products that may lead to residues in food or feed, the need to set new or to amend existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) shall be verified, and any appropriate risk mitigation measures shall be taken to ensure that the applicable MRLs are not exceeded.