AgroPages-Two fungicides receive EU biocide approval-Agricultural news

The fungicides, tebuconazole and thiabendazole, have been registered for use in wood preservatives under the EU biocidal products Directive (98/8). Both active ingredients were evaluated as part of the EU review of existing biocides. Tebuconazole will be added to Annex I of Directive 98/8 on April 1st 2010, while thiabendazole will be added on July 1st 2010. The delay is to allow member states and companies time to adapt to the conditions of the Annex I listing.
Denmark was rapporteur member state for the assessment of tebuconazole. The evaluation identified unacceptable risks for in situ treatment of wood outdoors and for treated wood in continuous contact with water, the European Commission says. Therefore, authorisation for these uses will require the submission of data demonstrating that products can be used without unacceptable risks to the environment, it says. Products for industrial use are to include instructions that treated timber must be stored under shelter or on impermeable hard standing to prevent direct losses to soil and to allow losses to be collected for re-use or disposal.
Spain was rapporteur for thiabendazole. The assessment found unacceptable risks for in situ treatment of wood outdoors and for treated wood exposed to weathering. Authorisations for these uses will not be granted without the submission of data demonstrating that risks can be reduced to acceptable levels. Industrial use requires the same storage conditions as for tebuconazole. In addition, products for industrial and/or professional use require appropriate protective equipment for users.
Directive 98/8 covers non-crop pesticides. Both ais have also been reviewed under the EU agrochemical registration Directive (91/414). Thiabendazole, which was in the first round of the review, was re-registered and added to Annex I of Directive 91/414 in 2002. Tebuconazole is in the third round and is still in the review process.