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Control of Marketing and Use of Plant Protection and Biocide Products

Plant Protection Products

The main provisions of the legislation (S.I No. 320 of 1981 as amended, S.I. No. 83 of 2003 and S.I. No. 624 of 2001), are as follows: -

Before a plant protection product (PPP) can be placed on the market or used, it must conform to rigid controls specified in accordance with the legislation. That legislation is designed to ensure that no harmful effects arise for human and animal health and that there is no unacceptable impact on the environment.

An extensive dossier of information and data must be generated for each product to demonstrate compliance with the very high level of protection enshrined in the legislation.

Plant protection products, on the market prior to the introduction of the current regulatory system, are gradually being reviewed to ensure compliance with current standards.

Only PPPs which can be used safely are authorised for marketing and use. The conditions of authorisation are selected to minimise risks for consumers, workers and the environment. The use of a PPP in a manner other than specified on its approved label is illegal. The labelling provisions that must be complied with by farmers, growers and other users include: -

• hazard symbols, risk warnings and safety recommendations
• personal protective equipment which must be worn during handling and application
• the maximum individual dose
• the maximum number of applications and the maximum total dose
• timing of applications and spray interval between applications
• pre-harvest interval following last application
• crops on which the PPP may be used
• harmful organisms for which the PPP may be used
• other relevant conditions

Biocidal Products (BPs) may only be placed on the Irish market and used in accordance with the legislation introduced (S.I No. 107 of 2000, S.I. No. 624 of 2001 and S.I. No. 625 of 2001). The following transitional arrangements for BPs apply: -

• existing BPs (biocidal products on the market on or before 1st February 2002) must be notified to the PCS.
• new BPs (biocidal products not on the Irish market on or before 1st February 2002) must be notified to the PCS and get prior approval before being placed on the market and used.

Application forms for plant protection products

• Application for approval of an active substance / application for authorization of a plant protection product
• Application for permission to market and use a plant protection product
• Notification form for adjuvants or for macro-organisms that are used as plant protection products
• Application for parallel imports of plant protection products

Fees for plant protection products

• Application and Annual fees for plant protection products

Application forms for biocidal products

• Notification Form for biocidal products