Commission Directive 2010/21/EU of 12 March 2010 amending Annex I to Council Directive 91/414/EEC as regards the specific provisions relating to clothianidin, thiamethoxam, fipronil and imidacloprid (Text with EEA relevance)

13.3.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 65/27
COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2010/21/EU
of 12 March 2010
amending Annex I to Council Directive 91/414/EEC as regards the specific provisions relating to clothianidin, thiamethoxam, fipronil and imidacloprid
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market (1), and in particular the second indent of the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The active substances clothianidin, thiamethoxam, fipronil and imidacloprid were included in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC by Commission Directives 2006/41/EC (2), 2007/6/EC (3), 2007/52/EC (4) and 2008/116/EC (5) respectively.
(2) Accidental releases of those active substances recently reported by several Member States have resulted in substantial losses of honey bee colonies. As a consequence, the Member States concerned have taken precautionary measures to temporarily suspend the placing on the market of plant protection products containing those substances.
(3) Clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and imidacloprid may only be authorised for uses as insecticide, including the use as seed treatment. Fipronil, however, may only be authorised for uses as insecticide for use as seed treatment. The accidents reported by Member States concern the inappropriate use of those active substances to treat seeds.
(4) To avoid future accidents, additional provisions, including appropriate risk mitigation measures, should be laid down for clothianidin, thiamethoxam, fipronil and imidacloprid.
(5) Directive 91/414/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(6) The measure provided for in this Directive is in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,