EU approves biocides diflubenzuron and pyriproxyfen

The European Commission has announced the approvals for biocides diflubenzuron and pyriproxyfen in accordance with EU biocidal products Directive 98/8/EC for use as a non-crop insecticide. The approvals were part of the review of existing biocides. They will be formally included in Annex I as insecticides on February 1st 2015 and the approval will expire on January 31st 2025.

The commission considered that the Union level risk assessment did not address all potential uses and exposure scenarios; certain uses and exposure scenarios, such as outdoor use, use by non- professionals, and exposure of livestock were excluded. When assessing the application for authorisation of a product in accordance with Article 5 and Annex VI, Member States shall assess, where relevant for the particular product, those uses or exposure scenarios and those risks to human populations and to environmental compartments that have not been representatively addressed in the Union level risk assessment.

For products containing diflubenzuron or pyriproxyfen that may lead to residues in food or feed, Member States shall verify the need to set new or to amend existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 470/2009 or Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, with special consideration to the in vivo genotoxic metabolite PCA, and take any appropriate risk mitigation measures ensuring that the applicable MRLs are not exceeded.

For biocide diflubenzuron, Member States are required to ensure that authorisations are subject to the following conditions unless it can be demonstrated in the application for product authorisation that the risks can be reduced to an acceptable level: professional users shall wear appropriate personal protective equipment.; product information shall include the requirement that products shall only be used on dry manure, and that the manure must undergo complete aerobic composting by professionals prior to application on arable land.; products shall not be used in water systems.

For biocide pyriproxyfen , Member States are required to ensure that authorisations are subject to the following conditions: products authorised for professionals shall be used with appropriate personal protective equipment, unless it can be demonstrated in the application for product authorisation that risks can be reduced to an acceptable level by other means; products shall not be authorised for direct use on surface water, unless it can be demonstrated in the application for product authorisation that risks can be reduced to an acceptable level; products intended to be used in waste treatment facilities shall be subject to appropriate risk mitigation measures to avoid contamination of the area outside the waste treatment site.