Scientific Opinion addressing the state of the science on risk assessment of plant protection products for in-soil organisms

Abstract

Following a request from EFSA, the Panel on Plant Protection Products and their Residues developed an opinion on the science behind the risk assessment of plant protection products for in-soil organisms. The current risk assessment scheme is reviewed, taking into account new regulatory frameworks and scientific developments. Proposals are made for specific protection goals for in-soil organisms being key drivers for relevant ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes such as nutrient cycling, soil structure, pest control and biodiversity. Considering the time-scales and biological processes related to the dispersal of the majority of in-soil organisms compared to terrestrial non-target arthropods living above soil, the Panel proposes that in-soil environmental risk assessments are made at in- and off-field scale considering field boundary levels. A new testing strategy which takes into account the relevant exposure routes for in-soil organisms and the potential direct and indirect effects is proposed. In order to address species recovery and long-term impacts of PPPs, the use of population models is also proposed. (C) 2017 European Food Safety Authority.

Keywords

in-soil invertebrates; microorganisms; effects; pesticides; protection goals; risk assessment

Published in

EFSA Journal
2017, volume: 15, number: 2, article number: 4690

SLU Authors

• Sundh, Ingvar

  • Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology
Environmental Sciences and Nature Conservation

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4690

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/96117