EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/220

(2004/C 78 E/0225)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3074/03

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(20 October 2003)

Subject: Avermectin

The pesticide Avermectin (also known as Abamectin and Ivermectin) is classified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a class IV toxicity pesticide, or practically non-toxic. At very high doses, however, it can affect mammals, causing symptoms of nervous system depression, such as lack of coordination, tremors, lethargy, anxiety and pupil dilation.

How is this pesticide regulated by the EU?

Is the Commission satisfied with the level of compliance with existing EU legislation on this pesticide at Member State level, and if not, what action is it considering?

What is the Commission's response to claims that residues of this insecticide in animal waste slow down the composting process?

Further to its 2002 communication on soil protection (1), what formal response has the Commission received so far from the Irish Government to its proposals for legislation on compost and other biowaste, due in 2004?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(14 November 2003)

The use of the group of active substances named avermectins (including among other substances abamectin and ivermectin) is legislated for in plant protection product legislation, in biocides legislation and in veterinary medicinal products legislation. The legislation also provides for the establishment of maximum residue limits in products of plant and animal origin.

Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991, on the placing of plant protection products on the market (2) provides that active substances may only be used in plant protection where it has been demonstrated that the use has no unacceptable effects on human health or the environment. Pending Community evaluations and Commission Decisions on individual substances that were already on the market in July 1993, the Directive permitted national rules to stay in place on a temporary basis. Abamectin is on the third priority list of substances established by the Commission under the Directive. Under Commission Regulation (EC) No 451/2000 of 28 February 2000 laying down the detailed rules for the implementation of the second and third stages of the work programme referred to in Article 8(2) of Council Directive 91/414/EEC (3), industry indicated its interest in supporting the substance in the review process. A complete dossier has to be submitted to the Commission by 25 November 2003. The Commission will decide on the acceptability of the use of abamectin in plant protection on the basis of an evaluation of that dossier.

Maximum levels of abamectin residues in food arising from its use in plant protection products are fixed in Commission Directive 2002/79/EC of 2 October 2002 amending the Annexes to Council Directives 76/895/EEC, 86/362/EEC, 86/363/EEC and 90/642/EEC as regards the fixing of maximum levels for certain pesticide residues in and on cereals, foodstuffs of animal origin and certain products of plant origin, including fruit and vegetables (4).

The use of abacmectin in biocidal products is governed by Directive 98/8/EC of the Parliament and the Council of 16 February 1998, on the placing of biocidal products on the market (5). The Directive provides that active substances may only be used in biocidal products where it has been demonstrated that the use has no unacceptable effects on human health or the environment. Pending Community evaluations and Commission Decisions on individual substances that were already on the market in May 2000, the Directive permits national rules to stay in place on a temporary basis. Abamectin has been notified by industry in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 1896/2000 of 7 September 2000 on the first phase of the programme referred to in Article 16(2) of Directive 98/8/EC of the Parliament and of the Council on biocidal products (6) for use in two product types: insecticides and molluscicides. In accordance with a soon to be adopted Commission Regulation, a complete dossier for use in insecticides will have to be submitted by 30 April 2006 at the latest. The Commission will decide on the acceptability of the use of abamectin in biocidal products on the basis of an evaluation of that dossier.

Maximum residues limits of abamectin residues in bovine and ovine tissues arising from its use in veterinary medicine have been established by Commission Regulations (EC) No 3425/93 of 14 December 1993 amending Annexes I and II to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 laying down a Community procedure for the establishment of maximum residue limits of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin (7) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 868/2002 of 24 May 2002 amending Annexes I and II of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 (8) respectively.

The Commission has not received any reports indicating that existing Community legislation on this pesticide is not complied with by the Member States.

The Commission has not received any reports that residues of this pesticide in animal waste slow down the composting process. Any such impact of residues arising from the use of the pesticide in plant protection would be evaluated as part of the assessment scheduled to be undertaken under Directive 91/414/EEC.

In the context of the Communication ‘Towards a Thematic Strategy on soil protection’, the Commission has announced a series of initiatives, including the development of a proposal for the management of biowaste. Such a Communication did not require any specific response from Member States. The Council has adopted conclusions on integrated soil protection on 25 June 2002. In it, Council stressed that ongoing environmental legislation initiatives on, inter alia, compost would make an important contribution to soil protection and requested the Commission to present the appropriate proposals as soon as possible.

(1) COM(2002) 179 final.

(2) OJ L 230, 19.8.1991.

(3) OJ L 55, 29.2.2000.

(4) OJ L 291, 28.10.2002.

(5) OJ L 123, 24.4.1998.

(6) OJ L 228, 8.9.2000.

(7) OJ L 312, 15.12.1993.

(8) OJ L 137, 25.5.2002.