News Nephyto
Worrying developments regarding PPP admission
Nefyto, the trade association for the manufacturers of plant protection products, expressed concerns about the authorization of new plant protection products at the annual meeting on Tuesday 11 December. No new active substances were registered in 2017. At the same time, it notices the emergence of 'green' resources, but this is getting in the way of a heavy admission procedure.
During his annual speech, Carlos Nijenhuis, the chairman of Nefyto, will show the registration figures for active substances since 1991. In that year there were 12 new substances, where that number has fallen to 2017 in 0. In addition, 2016 new substance was registered in 1. Worldwide, the number of new substances (with 4 items) is slightly higher, but here too a clear decrease is visible.
'Europe is too strict'
"The producers skip the European Union (EU) when (re)registering their products," says Jacobijn van Etten of the Board for the Authorization of Plant Protection Products and Biocides (Ctgb). "Several active substances do not pass the authorization procedure." Nijenhuis reports that politicians are also calling on member states to no longer allow new synthetic plant protection products. Nefyto calls this political interference worrisome.
In order to keep the agricultural entrepreneur's resource cupboard stocked (the theme of the annual conference), the use of biological 'green' crop protection products is being used. The registration of these is increasing, but they also have to go through that difficult registration procedure. The assessment framework is not always suitable for this, for example for microbial agents.
No exception for green resources
"The registration of 'low-risk drugs' will not be simplified," says Van Etten. "The Ctgb implements the law. We are unable to change it. With approval, it is possible to look at application technologies for safe use." As an example, a robot is cited that treats site-specific weeds with glyphosate so that the herbicide remains authorized when registration ends.
Van Etten also notes that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) wants to let go of existing laws in order to allow technology to play a greater role.
Green resources indicator
To provide insight into the use of the so-called 'green crop protection agents', Nefyto is launching the 'Graadmeter Green Crop Protection Products'. With this it wants to show how large the share is in the Netherlands. Globally, an increase of about 10% is expected on total substance use.
At the moment it is difficult to determine the exact use, because different definitions are often used for 'low-risk substances'; for example, there is no mention of kilos of active ingredient. Recent figures from Statistics Netherlands and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) lack any explanation for green resources. In the coming period, Nefyto will further develop the Graadmeter with its partners.
Niels van der Boom
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