Source: European Parliament
The Commission is considering together with Member States amendments to Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009[1] ‘Plant Protection Products (PPP) Regulation’ and the relevant Guidance document[2], aiming to improve efficiency for conducting comparative assessments while respecting the legal provisions of Article 50(1) of the PPP Regulation. Work is still ongoing. Stakeholders will also be consulted in due time.
The Commission would like to recall that in its decision of 22 August 2024[3], the European Ombudsman found that there was no maladministration by the Commission in relying on the relevant standard developed by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO). Whether or not that standard remains suitable for use in the EU or needs to be revised will depend on the outcome of the above-mentioned work on potential amendments to Annex IV and the related guidance.
The Commission would like to recall that EPPO is an independent intergovernmental organisation which governs its policy regarding conflicts of interest. The Commission informed EPPO of the Ombudsman’s recommendations in that regard.
- [1] Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC (OJ L 309, 24.11.2009, p. 1).
- [2] The guidance document on comparative assessment and substitution of Plant Protection Products in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 (SANCO/11507/2013 rev. 12), available at: https://food.ec.europa.eu/document/download/be440357-ae1f-4e57-8ca7-3690f50c08cf_en?filename=pesticides_aas_guidance_comparative_assessment_substitution_rev_1107-2009.pdf
- [3] Decision on how the European Commission adopted a guidance document on comparative assessment in the context of the substitution of hazardous substances in pesticides (case 177/2023/VB), https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/decision/en/191432