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In order to summarise the benefits of the network, you can read some of the most recent questions and answers provided by CRN members here under the following forum headings: If you have the answers to any of these questions or if you have questions like these and would like to participate, you can join CRN now.Note: The names and organisations of the experts are not shown for each question / answer here - they are shown when you log into CRN.
Food Issues
CRN Question:
Which is the difference between the term pesticide and the term plant protection product?Latest Answer:
Pesticides are chemical or biological agents or mixtures of such substances that prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate pests. Pests in this context are insects, vertebrates (e.g. rodents or rabbits), unwanted plants, fungi and plant diseases, or microorganisms. The products involved are insecticides, rodenticides, herbicides, and fungicides.However, because pesticides are regulated, it is necessary to have legal definitions of pesticides. Within the EU pesticides are actually regulated under two different directives, Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and the Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market.
Directive 91/414/EEC defines plant protection products as active substances and preparations containing one or more active substances, put up in the form in which they are supplied to the user, intended to:
- protect plants or plant products against all harmful organisms or
- prevent the action of such organisms, in so far as such substances or
- preparations are not otherwise defined below;
- influence the life processes of plants, other than as a nutrient, (e.g.growth regulators);
- preserve plant products, in so far as such substances or products are not subject to special Council of Commission provisions on preservatives;
- destroy undesired plants; or
- destroy parts of plants, check or prevent undesired growth of plants;
A simpler way of thinking of this is plant protection products are pesticides (insectides, herbicides, fungicides, and plant growth regulators) used in agriculture/horticulture, gardening or weed control.
While the Biocides Directive defines a biocidal product as: Active substances and preparations containing one or more active substances, put up in the form in which they are supplied to the user, intended to destroy, deter, render harmless, prevent the action of, or otherwise exert a controlling effect on any harmful organism by chemical or biological means.
This Directive has a wide scope, with 23 product types: which includes a pest control group which traditionally may be considered to be pesticides:
rodenticides for the control of mice, rats or other rodents; avicides for control of birds; molluscicides for the control of molluscs, e.g. snails that may clog pipes; piscicides for the control of fish; excludes products for the treatment of fish diseases; insecticides, acaricides and to control other arthropods e.g. insects arachnids and crustaceans; repellents or attractants used to control, harmful organisms (invertebrates such as fleas, vertebrates such as birds), by repelling or attracting, including those that are used for human or veterinary hygiene either directly or indirectly.
The Biocides Directive does not apply to certain products subject to other European legislation including plant protection products, human medicines, veterinary medicines, medical devices or cosmetics.
Data Sets and Probabilistic Exposure Assessments
CRN Question:
If probabilistic modelling is to be used to estimate exposure to a chemical so that the result can be compared with a safety level, what percentile value should be chosen to compare with the safety level and should this value always be the mean of the percentile or an upper value of the percentile. If probabilistic exposure assessments are to be used should there be European consensus for which percentile to use?Latest Answer:
I have been extensively involved in better understanding how probabilistic and probabilistic-aggregate exposure approaches can be applied to consumer products. As I have explored the question of which percentile of the exposure to use, I have had to go back to the data that is used to understand exposure to consumer products. Typically these data come from diary studies where products are given to a person and they are asked to record how often the product is used. The difference in the weight of the product at the beginning and end of the study is also collected. It has been found that in these situations, there may be errors in the record of how often the product is used, and very often the user will use more than they do for a product they purchased themselves. Also if they like the product, they will take some out before returning it. This plus the errors in recall that happen when consumers are asked to recall past use are well recognized in the consumer knowledge community. Given these potential sources of error and biases that are often introduced, typically the higher percentiles, for sure above 90th are treated with some suspicion. We have more work on-going to quantify the level of error in these type of studies in hopes of making a more definitive recommendation. Please let me know if you have any additional ideas or thoughts.International Issues
CRN Question:
Should the EU adopt the US FDA approach for regulating the use of chemicals in food packaging materials? Would this method provide more transparency in the system and more control over the use of chemicals in food contact materials?Answer:
This will not happen, as the legislative systems are different. However, the use of exposure to demonstrate compliance with the Framework Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 should be supported by all, as this is the only route to resolve the issues surrounding NIAS (Non Intentionally Added Substances) or the 'forest of peaks'. Hopefully in the future exposure can be used in support of reduced dossiers for new substances where migration may exceed 50 ppb, but exposure doesn't exceed 50 microg/person/day.
Currently Open Questions - Still Awaiting Answers From Experts:
1. Evaluating a plant protection product dossier, under the Directive 91/414/EEC I found a plant metabolism study performed on a variety of GMO potatoes.Is it acceptable to perform such a study, under the EU evaluation process, using GMO plants?
2. Does anybody have any information on health impacts that pesticide spraying can have in residential areas, for humans (especially the elderly), pets and wildlife? I would be particularly interested in weed killers with the active ingredient glyphosate.
3. I would be grateful if anyone could give me any information (scientific papers, reports, public databases, etc.) regarding occurrence and concentration of natural flavouring substances in processed foods and beverages. We are particularly interested in raspberry ketone.
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