EU approved hexaflumuron as biocide

The European Commission has approved hexaflumuron as biocide for five years effects from April 1st 2017. Hexaflumuron, from Dow AgroSciences, is an insecticide which is intended to be used for controlling termites by professionals. 
 

Member States who intend to approve hexaflumuron shall pay 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. Products shall only be authorised for use in Member States where at least one of the conditions set in Article 5(2) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 is met. For professional users, safe operational procedures and appropriate organisational measures shall be established. Products shall be used with appropriate personal protective equipment where exposure cannot be reduced to an acceptable level by other means. In addition, 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.