Introduction

Classes and uses of pesticides

Legal framework

Approval Levels

Scientific information in the regulatory process.

Risk Management Process

Constitution and function of the various organisations

Management of pesticides in the future.

The precautionary principle in pesticide regulation....

Scientific risk assessment always entails an element of uncertainty that must be taken into account when managing risks. In recognition of this requirement, the 1992 Rio Conference on the Environment and Development set out the “Precautionary Principle”.

Subsequently, the principle has been extended to cover threats to health as well as to the environment, and has been widely embraced by governments and agencies internationally.

Effectively, the precautionary principle is applied as routine in the regulation of new pesticides. As has already been explained, new products are not authorised unless there is adequate scientific evidence that their use will not pose unacceptable risks to health and to the environment. In other words, uncertainties in the risk assessment must have been sufficiently eliminated before a new product is approved.

The position when reviewing pesticides that are already on the market is more complex, since there may be risks associated with withdrawal as well as with continued use. For example, loss of an agent for the control of cockroaches might threaten health through its impact on hygiene in buildings. In this situation, it could be argued that the precautionary stance would be to maintain the status quo and continue approval. When reviewing existing approvals the ACP does not make explicit decisions that it will or will not apply the precautionary principle. Rather it aims to give due weight to all uncertainties in the risk assessment, whether they relate to risks from continuing or withdrawing approval.