Newsletter #15

Knowledge: do you know … endocrine disruptors

As a spin-off from the University of Ghent, Primoris has maintained a scientific approach to research and analysis. Our product management department, including research and development group follows recent developments and we make it a priority to share our knowledge with our customers and other stakeholders.

In this newsletter, we want to put endocrine disruptors in the spotlight.

Endocrine active substances (EAS) are substances that can interact or interfere with normal hormonal action. When this leads to adverse effects, they are called endocrine disruptors (ED). (Sources and further info: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/endocrine-active-substances and http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-2151_en.htm).  Endocrine disruption is a fairly recent way of looking at the toxicity of chemicals. In recent years, the scientific community and authorities worldwide have been discussing this topic and how to regulate it. The latest European developments are:

• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/2100 of 17/11/2017
  • The criteria for ED’s are harmonized for pesticides and biocides
    • The criteria are strictly limited to hazard identification
    • The criteria do NOT define how to regulate EDs –this is already set out in the legislation (see below)
    • The criteria shall apply from 7 June 2018
  • The criteria contain the 3 elements of the 2002 WHO/IPCS definition of an endocrine disruptor:
    • Endocrine mode of action
    • adverse effect
    • causality / correlation between the action and the adverse effect

• Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/605 of 19 April 2018 setting out scientific criteria for the determination of endocrine disrupting properties of plant protection substances.
  • The criteria are published and will apply from 10 November 2018
  • The final criteria will apply to:
    • New active substances or renewals submitted after application date of the final criteria (Nov.2018)
    • New active substances or renewals where SCOPAFF approval vote has not yet taken place at time criteria apply (Nov2018)
    • Active substances with requirements related to providing confirmatory data related to ED properties

Currently approved pesticides identified as POTENTIAL ED’s based on the Commission impact assessment report relevant to all commodities (option 2 and Option3): 2,4-D, 8-hydroxyquinoline, Boscalid, Cypermethrin, Desmedipham, Fenamidone, Flubendiamide, Iprodione, Lenacil, Malathion, Mancozeb, Maneb, Metiram, Myclobutanil, Oxadiazon, Pendimethalin, Propyzamide, Spirodiclofen, Tebuconazole, Tepraloxydim, Tetraconazole, Thiophanate-methyl, Thiram, Tralkoxydim, Triflusulfuron, Ziram.