Ctgb approved 83 percent of uses in 2017
In 2017 the Ctgb made 184 decisions on plant protection products and 65 decisions on biocidal products. Such decisions concern multiple uses of a product. The Ctgb approved 83% of the requested uses for plant protection products and 84% for biocides. In comparison, 17% (plant protection products) and 16% (biocidal products) of the requested uses were rejected, or the requests were withdrawn by applicants due to risks ascertained by the Ctgb. In 59% (ppp) and 33% (bp) of the decisions, the instructions for use were tightened, so that consumers and growers can be confident that the products they buy and use are safe when they are used in accordance with instructions. The number of authorised, rejected and amended applications did not differ significantly from previous years.
Last year, there was a great deal of discussion in society and the media about glyphosate, bee mortality, fipronil and residues on strawberries. The use of fipronil in chicken sheds is not permitted, because fipronil is not authorised for the control of poultry red mite. However, other products and substances are authorised and corresponding instructions for use are in force. The Ctgb authorises a product only if it can be used safely and is not harmful for people, animals and the environment. To establish this safety, a risk assessment is performed according to European criteria, and, if necessary, supplementary national criteria. Plant protection products and biocides are therefore prohibited in principle unless they have been authorised by the Ctgb. All Ctgb decisions and assessment reports are available to the public.
Interested parties can refer to the authorisation decisions and assessment reports for all products, and see how the Ctgb conducted the risk assessment on which it based its decision that the product is safe to use. During 2017, the Ctgb switched to a new system for its authorisation database, with new functionalities. All authorised products and their permitted uses in plant protection or as biocides can now be found in the database, along with the corresponding authorisation decisions and assessment reports.