EU renews registrations for three herbicides

The European Commission has recently announced to renew registrations for herbicides Dow AgroSciences’ Cyhalofop-butyl, Bayer CropScience’s Mesosulfuron and Syngenta’s Mesotrione. Cyhalofop-butyl  and Mesosulfuron-methyl approvals will  be effective on 1 July 2017 and will expire on 30 June 2032, and Mesotrione approval was effective on 1 June 2017 until 31 May 2032.

For Cyhalofop-butyl, Member States shall pay particular attention to the protection of operators and the technical specification, as well as the protection of non-target terrestrial plants.

For Mesosulfuron, the EC noted that  Member States shall pay particular attention to the protection of aquatic organisms and non-target terrestrial plants,as well as the protection of groundwater.

Besides, the applicant shall submit to the Commission, the Member States and the Authority confirmatory information as regards the effect of water treatment processes on the nature of residues present in drinking water within a period of two years of a guidance document on evaluation of the effect of water treatment processes on the nature of residues present in surface and groundwater being made public by the Commission.

For Mesotrione, Member States shall pay particular attention to     the protection of operators；the protection of groundwater in vulnerable regions；the protection of mammals, aquatic and non-target plants.

The applicant shall submit confirmatory information as regards:
1.    the genotoxic profile of the metabolite AMBA;
2.    the potential endocrine disrupting mode of action of the active substance in particular level 2 and 3 tests, currently indicated in the OECD Conceptual framework (OECD 2012) and analysed in the EFSA Scientific opinion on the hazard assessment of endocrine disruptors;
3.    the effect of water treatment processes on the nature of residues present in surface and groundwater, when surface water or groundwater are abstracted for drinking water.

The applicant shall submit to the Commission, the Member States and the Authority the relevant information requested under point 1 by 1 July 2017 and the relevant information requested under point 2 by 31 December 2017. The applicant shall submit to the Commission, the Member States and the Authority the confirmatory information requested under point 3 within a period of two years after a guidance document on evaluation of the effect of water treatment processes on the nature of residues present in surface and groundwater be made public by the Commission.