05.01.2013 Views

technical guidance documents - Institute for Health and Consumer ...

technical guidance documents - Institute for Health and Consumer ...

technical guidance documents - Institute for Health and Consumer ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

RISK CHARACTERISATION<br />

eaters. This may lead to a request <strong>for</strong> more specific tests, <strong>for</strong> instance long-term dietary studies<br />

on birds, that can be used to facilitate a better calculation.<br />

5.5 RISK CHARACTERISATION FOR BIOCIDES<br />

The environmental risk characterisation <strong>for</strong> biocidal active substances in the context of Article 5<br />

<strong>and</strong> Annex VI of Directive 98/8 involves i.a. the comparison of PEC <strong>and</strong> PNEC values <strong>for</strong><br />

relevant environmental compartments as well as <strong>for</strong> non-target organisms. According to Articles<br />

10 <strong>and</strong> 11 of the Directive, the possible results of the risk assessment are:<br />

• there is a need <strong>for</strong> further in<strong>for</strong>mation <strong>and</strong>/or testing;<br />

• the substance has unacceptable effects on the environment <strong>and</strong> consequently, it cannot be<br />

included in Annex I, IA or IB;<br />

• the substance may be considered <strong>for</strong> inclusion in Annex I, IA or IB of the Directive.<br />

The decision on inclusion in Annex I, IA or IB of the Directive also depends on other criteria<br />

regarding, e.g., other unacceptable effects <strong>and</strong> efficacy (cf. Directive 98/8 <strong>and</strong> the Technical<br />

Notes <strong>for</strong> Guidance on Annex I inclusion). The inclusion may, where appropriate, be subject to<br />

certain requirements <strong>and</strong> conditions <strong>for</strong> use. When it is concluded that the active biocidal<br />

substance can be included in Annex I, IA or IB, the inclusion may be granted <strong>for</strong> an initial period<br />

not exceeding 10 years (Article 10 of Directive 98/8). The inclusion of an active substance may<br />

be renewed on one or more occasions <strong>for</strong> periods not exceeding 10 years.<br />

Additional to these main conclusions, some substances included in Annex I, IA or IB may be<br />

c<strong>and</strong>idates <strong>for</strong> a future comparative assessment (Article 10 of Directive 98/8). This may be the<br />

case when the PEC/PNEC ratio is > 0.1 <strong>and</strong> ≤ 1 (cf. the Technical Notes <strong>for</strong> Guidance (TNsG)<br />

on Annex I inclusion, 2001).<br />

It is considered an unacceptable effect if PEC/PNEC > 1 <strong>for</strong> non-target organisms <strong>and</strong> aquatic<br />

organisms, or if the bioconcentration factor (BCF) > 1 related to fat tissues in non-target vertebrates,<br />

if BCF <strong>for</strong> aquatic organisms > 1000 <strong>for</strong> readily biodegradable substances or if BCF <strong>for</strong> aquatic<br />

organisms > 100 <strong>for</strong> not readily biodegradable substances (cf. Annex VI to Directive 98/8).<br />

If the PEC/PNEC ratio is > 1 the Member State shall judge, on the basis of the size of that ratio<br />

<strong>and</strong> on other relevant factors, if further in<strong>for</strong>mation <strong>and</strong>/or testing are required to clarify the<br />

concern, if risk reduction measures are necessary or if the substance cannot be included in<br />

Annex I, IA or IB at all.<br />

Finally, if a quantitative risk characterisation cannot be conducted, a qualitative risk<br />

characterisation should be conducted, cf. below.<br />

5.6 QUALITATIVE RISK CHARACTERISATION<br />

Although the use of quantitative PEC/PNEC ratios is the preferred procedure <strong>for</strong> carrying out an<br />

environmental risk assessment, there may be cases where a quantitative risk characterisation<br />

cannot be carried out. This is, e.g., the case <strong>for</strong> assessment of risks <strong>for</strong> remote marine areas <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>for</strong> substances where either PEC or PNEC cannot be properly calculated. In these cases, the risk<br />

characterisation shall entail a qualitative evaluation of the likelihood that an effect will occur<br />

under the expected conditions of exposure (see Annex III, par. 4.2 of Directive 93/67).<br />

179

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!