Ctgb policy for products containing pheromones and attractants
The Ctgb has enacted a policy for biocidal products and plant protection products that contain pheromones or attractants, and has clarified when an authorisation is required for such products. This policy is compatible with the European guidances and other European agreements on these products.
Semiochemicals are substances that are emitted by plants, animals and other organisms to communicate (send chemical messages). These substances can have various effects, such as attracting or repelling other organisms, or disrupting their behaviour. Various biocidal products contain these substances. Depending on their purpose, they may require an authorisation as a biocidal product. For biocidal products, the European Commission ruled in May 2017 that European Member States can determine individually whether products used for the purpose of monitoring require authorisation as a biocidal product.
In response to these developments, the Ctgb has clarified the policy in the Netherlands for products based on semiochemicals and attractants.
According to the Biocidal Products Regulation, traps that are intended only for monitoring (counting) insects or other pest animals, and are not intended to influence the size of the population, do not require authorisation. However, if the traps have the purpose of reducing the population of insects or other pest animals, then authorisation as a biocidal product is required.
Please note that if a biocidal product contains both a pheromone or attractant (PT19) AND an active substance that kills the target organism (e.g. an insecticide, PT18), the product will be evaluated in line with the criteria for the other Product Type (in the case of this example: PT18, and not PT19).
This policy is summarised in the table below.
|
Primary function of semiochemical or attractant in the product |
Additional function |
Repel harmful organisms or prevent their harmful effects |
|
Traps |
None |
No authorisation required* (monitoring only) |
|
Mechanical control |
BPR authorisation required** |
|
|
Insecticide or other type of active substance |
BPR authorisation required |
|
|
Disrupt behaviour |
n.a. |
BPR authorisation required |
|
Repel |
n.a. |
BPR authorisation required |
* based on the European agreement from 2007 (MoD 2.5.11); including trapping insects and other pest animals without the intention of influencing the size of the population
** in this case control means: the intention to limit the size of the population n.a. does not apply