Introduction

Classes and uses of pesticides

Legal framework

Approval Levels

Scientific information in the regulatory process.

Risk Assessment Process

Constitution and function of the various organisations

Management of pesticides in the future.

Related Organisations..

The Inter-Departmental Secretariat (IDS)

The Inter-Departmental Secretariat (IDS) is a body that directly supports the ACP. It is made up of representatives of the regulatory Departments. The IDS considers data supplied in support of applications for approval and evaluates data submitted for the European review programme and applications for new active substances to be listed under Annex I of Directive 91/414/EEC. In some cases, regulatory decisions are based directly on the conclusions of the IDS (eg. approvals for the first experimental use of a new active substance or for certain changes in the composition or use of a previously approved pesticide), but the most important issues are referred for consideration by the ACP before advice to Ministers is finalised. The IDS usually considers issues by correspondence only.

Biocides Consultative Committee

The Biocides Consultative Committee, like the ACP a committee of independent experts with similar distribution of expertise, has been set up to advise the UK competent authority on matters relating to biocidal products within the framework of the Biocidal Products Directive and the domestic legislation which implements it. Its members are appointed by the Health and Safety Commission with the agreement of Ministers. It differs from the ACP in not being established by statute or having statutory functions. It intends to work closely with the ACP on matters of common interest.

Pesticides Forum

The Pesticides Forum was established in May 1996 to bring together organisations that have an interest in the use and impact of pesticides. Membership is drawn from a wide range of environmental, conservation and consumer interests as well as from the pesticide and agricultural industries. The Forum’s primary purpose is to encourage and promote responsible pesticide use, in support of the Government’s policy on minimising pesticide use, which aims to reduce the potential for adverse impacts on the environment. The Forum has no executive function and Ministers are under no obligation to take its advice into account when considering policy options.

Representatives from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Health and Safety Executive, the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department, the National Assembly for Wales Agriculture Department, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Northern Ireland, the Department of Health and the Department for Trade and Industry also attend Forum meetings in an advisory capacity.

Organisations within the European Union

As mentioned in Section 2, there is a European-wide regime for regulating active substances used in plant protection and biocidal products. Generally speaking, in the case of plant protection products, new active substances are regulated according to harmonised European requirements, and older chemicals (pre-July 1993) are being reviewed gradually according to these requirements.

This work is carried out by the European Commission with the support of the 25 Member States. The Pesticides Safety Directorate plays an important role in Europe. It represents the UK in the European process for legislation of new plant protection products and for the review of existing ones. PSD also acts as the UK regulatory authority for approvals which follow from European Union (EU) decisions.

Various organisations within the EU are involved in the regulatory process.