PESTICIDES : COMMISSION SET TO AUTHORISE FOUR ACTIVE SUBSTANCES.

• Position: Brief article

The European Commission is expected to decide on 9 January to amend Directive 91/414/EEC on the marketing of plant pesticides used to increase agricultural production, with the intention of adding four active substances contained in these products. These are captane, folpet, formetanate and methiocarb.

The 1991 directive provides for the inclusion of certain new active substances, on condition it can be scientifically proved that they respect certain criteria in terms of protecting human health and the environment. According to the document, different tests have shown that they meet the criteria.

The data provided by industry was evaluated by the rapporteur member states, which drew up draft evaluation reports for each substance. These reports were then adopted by the Council by qualified majority in accordance with the comitology procedure. Member states which either abstained or voted against criticised...