Objetivo
Biological control agents (BCAs) are sustainable and environmentally safe tools to manage pest insects, nematodes, weeds and diseases in agriculture, forestry and horticulture. However, registration procedures have been established for micro-organisms, semiochemicals and botanicals, which prevent their market introduction. Registration largely follows rules developed for synthetic pesticides, thus many possibly irrelevant investigations are requested. Costly risk assessment studies and long term evaluation of dossiers keep these products off the market. The time frame for the EU evaluation of dossiers according to Directive 91/414/EEC is > 70 months compared with ca. 23 months for the same products in the USA. Due to their nature and specificity of action, BCAs should not be treated like synthetic chemicals and therefore need a different approach for risk assessment and regulation. The objective of the Action REBECA is to accelerate the regulation process for BCAs and make it more cost-effective without compromises to the level of safety. The Action will review current legislation, guidelines and guidance documents at Member State and EU level and compare them with legislation in countries where the market introduction of BCAs was more successful. Potential risks of BCAs will be reviewed and proposals are prepared on how regulation of BCAs can be balanced according to their potential hazards. Costs and benefits related to different levels of regulation will be reviewed and trade-offs evaluated. Alternative regulation strategies will be developed for low risk products. The action will bring together stakeholders from industry, science, regulation authorities, policy and environment to form a network within Europe bringing together the expertise and critical mass necessary to improve regulation procedures for BCAs. The action will identify future research tools to support the development of balanced regulation strategies.
Ámbito científico
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagricultureagronomyplant protection
- natural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyentomology
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulture
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiology
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesforestry
Tema(s)
Convocatoria de propuestas
FP6-2004-SSP-4
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoria
Régimen de financiación
SSA - Specific Support ActionCoordinador
KIEL
Alemania