PHYTO PRODUCTS : FAQ
What is a plant protection product (PPP)?
This term refers specifically to the plant uses of pesticides (agricultural and non-agricultural, such as in gardens or green spaces in municipalities). There are mainly three categories: herbicides (to control weeds), fungicides (to control fungi) and insecticides (to control insects). Other products have an action on rodents (rodenticides), snails and slugs (molluscicides). According to the definition given by article L.253-1 of the Rural Code, they also include products containing GMOs whose function is to destroy undesirable species.
What is a MA?
The Marketing Authorization (MA) is the agreement given to a holder of the exploitation rights of an industrially manufactured plant protection commercial speciality to market it. All plant protection products must be distributed under a MA number and must be indicated on the product label.
All the MAs granted in France are listed on the site http://e-phy.agriculture.gouv.fr/
What is an MSDS?
The Safety Data Sheet eis a form containing data on the properties of a chemical substance.
These sheets are an important element of health and safety for the users of the products and for those who treat their remains, residues, or waste contaminated by these products toxic and/or dangerous . but also for the caregivers, by informingemergency (including poison control centers) on risks related to these products and ways to reduce them.
These cards are widely used to catalogue information on chemical products. They should be found wherever a substance is used. At Europes, they are to be distributed by the manufacturer or the distributor of the product to the customer and in the customer's language.
What are the risks associated with the use of PPPs?
On the man:
Plant protection products are known to scientists since sixties for their nuisances on the human health. Their exposure increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, d'haemopathies and reproductive disorders and several types of cancers (gliomas, sarcomas, prostate canceretc.). These risks are stated by risk phrases on the labels of the products concerned:
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- H301 Toxic by inhalation
- H302 Harmful if swallowed
- EUH029 In contact with water, releases toxic gases
- H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
- H315 Causes skin irritation.
- H351 Suspected of causing cancer
- H350 May cause cancer
- H340 May induce genetic abnormalities
- H360 Can harm fertility or the foetus
- H361 May impair fertility or the foetus
- H362 May be harmful to breast-fed infants.
On the environment:
The risks to the environment are various, they are stated by risk phrases that must be affixed to the labels of the products concerned:
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- H400 Very toxic to aquatic organisms
- H411 Toxic to aquatic organisms, causes long-term adverse effects.
- H412 Harmful to aquatic organisms, causes long-term adverse effects.
- EUH401 Observe the instructions for use to avoid risks to human health and the environment.
- EUH059 Dangerous for the ozone layer
To reduce the risks, it is advisable to limit the application of these products (other so-called "organic" solutions may exist, see "Alternative Control" section) and to protect oneself in an appropriate manner (see "PPE: Personal Protective Equipment" section).
Are there more or less harmful PPPs?
PPPs are classified by level of dangerousness, pictograms present on product labels give you an indication of the type of danger linked to its use (see "Good Phyto Practices" sheet).
The EAJ (Authorised Garden Use) label guarantees a lower level of dangerousness.
The indication UAB (Usable in Organic Agriculture) guarantees that the active substance used in the product does not present an unacceptable risk to human or animal health or to the environment when the product is used under the normal conditions linked to its marketing authorisation (MA).
What types of PPPs can I use for my garden?
According to the decree of 6 October 2004 relating to the conditions of authorisation and use of the mention "authorised use in gardens" for plant protection products, modified by the decree of 26 July 2005, the specialities benefiting from the mention "Authorised use in gardens (EAJ)" are the only products that can be sold to non-professionals (amateur gardeners) and used by the latter because they present guarantees of less dangerousness.
What are Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) and Pre-Harvest Intervals (PHI)?
MRLs are regulatory maximum concentrations of active substances that must not be exceeded in food. They are defined during the toxicological studies carried out to obtain marketing authorisation.
The MRL for a crop protection agent is not to be exceeded if the pre-harvest interval (PHI) for the product is adhered to.
The DAR is the time necessary for the degradation of the phytosanitary product after treatment that must be respected before harvesting. If no RAD is indicated on the label, the RAD is 3 days.
Observe the instructions on the label !
COMPANY APPROVED BY THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE SALE OF PHYTO-PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS TO NON-PROFESSIONAL USERS
Approval Number: IF01878