Sponsor:
German Federal Environment Agency (FKZ 3711 63 410)
Realisation:
Hydrotox GmbH, Stefan Gartiser (Projektleitung)
UMTEC, Rapperswil,Michael Burkhardt
Öko-Institut e.V., Freiburg, Rita Groß
OPERA Research Centre, Piacenza, Maura Calliera
Project duration:
11/2011 - 07/2014
Summary:
The Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides (SUD) has only been implemented for plant protection products, so far. No harmonised approach exists for minimising hazards and risks of biocides to human health and the environment during the use phase. Potential measures for supporting a sustainable use of disinfectants (Product type PT 2 and PT 3), masonry preservatives and façade coatings (PT 7/10) and rodenticides (PT 14) have been analysed. The study was based on a broad stakeholder consultation and two workshops. A package of measures was proposed and discussed among European experts.
Sustainable use of biocides addresses the three pillars; social, environmental and economic affairs. According to the “guard rail concept” a healthy environment defines the guard rails for future development. Most instruments for improving sustainable use of plant protection products, as described in the SUD, are applicable to biocides after adjusting them to the PT specific requirements. This concerns, e.g. education and training, requirements for sales, the establishment of awareness programmes, control of the machinery for biocide application, the development of best practice standards and principles of integrated pest management, and the collection of statistics on biocide consumption. For articles treated with biocides such as masonry preservatives and façade coatings, measures for emission reduction during the service life should specifically be considered. Alternative and preventive measures should also be considered.
The analyses also included proposals for the selection of appropriate indicators used to control the efficiency of measures and communication strategies to different target groups. The selection of indicators is directly related to the objectives of sustainable use and to the measures proposed to achieve the goals of sustainable use of biocides and thus should be discussed parallel.
The development of an EU legislation for supporting a sustainable use of biocides is recommended in order to provide appropriate measures to reduce risk to the environment and human health. There is an ongoing discussion among Member States whether and how a general strategy on sustainable use of biocides should be implemented at an European level.
The final report has been published in the UBA-Texte series No. 53/2015.
Contact person at Hydrotox:
Dr. Stefan Gartiser
E-Mail: gartiser(at)hydrotox.de
Tel: +49-(0)761-45512-24