Single European Register

Until the 1990s, each country had its own pesticide register. Following the entry into force of Directive 91/414/EEC on the marketing of plant protection products, all active substances existing on the market of EU countries must be reviewed. This review programme began in 1993 and was due to finish in 2003, but this proved impossible and it was extended until 2008.

The directive provides that active substances be registered at European level, but commercial formulations will continue to be registered at the level of each state, although only formulations containing active substances admitted in the European Register may be registered.

The admission of active substances at European level is very demanding and is done on the basis of costly chemical identity studies.

At present we are witnessing important changes regarding the products usable against pests. This brings a certain disorientation among farmers, due to the volume of changes and the speed at which they occur, which means we frequently have to readapt our pest-control strategy.

Conclusions

In the European Union, food safety and environmental protection are currently priority issues. Pesticides pose risks in both aspects, so the restrictive legislation on their use is increasing and in constant evolution.

This regulation takes the form of regulating the start of the chain of their use — the Single European Register of active substances — and the end of use, in maximum residue limits and their control in plant products. The trend is also to legislate at European level on the intermediate aspects of the chain.

Farmers and technicians must be attentive to the changes that occur, both in the authorisations and withdrawals of active substances and in the variations, by informing themselves properly, in order to avoid errors in the use of pesticides that could have important consequences, both legal and in terms of public opinion, given the great sensitivity that currently exists on these matters.