Documentation

Highlighting specific guidance

A list of non-chemical alternatives is available from Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, United Kingdom).

The comparative assessment consists of a agronomic comparison and a risk assessment. For both steps international guidance is available, i.e. respectively ‘EPPO guidance on comparative assessment’ and ‘EU guidance document on comparative assessment’.

The EPPO Standard PP 1/271 (2) – Guidance on comparative assessment provides guidance for comparative assessment to determine whether the substitution of a plant protection product is appropriate in view of agronomic considerations. However, this Standard does not address comparative safety from the human and environmental perspective. It covers comparison with chemical and non-chemical pest control alternatives.

The SANCO draft Guidance document on Comparative Assessment  and Substitution of Plant Protection Products in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 is meant to supplement the EPPO standard, i.e. to give Member States guidance on how to perform the comparative assessment of risks to health and the environment, and to provide an overall framework for comparative assessment.

In more detail criteria are elaborated in 'Elaboration of criteria for 'practical or economic disadvantages' and 'consequences for minor uses’ as part of the agronomic assessment.