Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance clove oil.

The conclusions of the EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authority of the rapporteur Member State, Malta, for the pesticide active substance clove oil are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The conclusions for the amendment of approval were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative use of clove oil as a preharvest nematicide on tomatoes and cucumbers (permanent greenhouse use). The representative use evaluated for the renewal of approval of clove oil was as post-harvest fungicide and bactericide on apples, pears and peaches (indoor uses). The reliable endpoints appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment are presented. Endpoints not relevant to the scope of the proposed amendment of approval conditions will be addressed in the context of the renewal of approval procedure of clove oil running in parallel (AIR IV, EFSA Q-2016-00809). Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed. Concerns are reported where identified.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance rape seed oil.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State the Netherlands and co-rapporteur Member State Finland for the pesticide active substance rape seed oil and the considerations as regards the inclusion of the substance in Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012, as amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2018/1659. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative professional and non-professional uses of rape seed oil as an acaricide on pome fruit trees (field use), berries, vegetables, ornamentals (greenhouse and field uses) and as an insecticide on potatoes (field use). The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment, are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance oxamyl.

The conclusions of the EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State, Italy, and co-rapporteur Member State, France, for the pesticide active substance oxamyl and the assessment of applications for maximum residue levels (MRLs) are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012, as amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2018/1659. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of oxamyl as a nematicide on potato and tobacco (field use), on tomato (permanent greenhouse), on cucurbits (edible and inedible peel), pepper, aubergine and plants nurseries of the above-mentioned crops on soil bed preparation (permanent greenhouse). The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment and the proposed MRLs, are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed. Concerns are identified.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance fish oil.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State the Czech Republic and co-rapporteur Member State France for the pesticide active substance fish oil and the considerations as regards the inclusion of the substance in Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012, as amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2018/1659. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of fish oil as a game repellent on deciduous and coniferous trees in forestry. The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment, are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance carbon dioxide.

The conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State, France, and co-rapporteur Member State, Austria, for the pesticide active substance carbon dioxide and the considerations as regards the inclusion of the substance in Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012, as amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2018/1659. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of carbon dioxide as an insecticide and acaricide on stored cereal grains, oilseeds, medicinal plants, cereal products, spices, tobacco, tea, dried fruits and other stored plant products (except semolina and oilseed meal) (all indoor uses). The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment, are presented.

Tolerance of nitrifying bacteria to copper and nickel.

Evidence is mounting that soil microorganisms can become increasingly tolerant to metals on exposure. However, in situ investigations regarding the effects of metals, particularly Cu and Ni, on specific soil functions/communities are still limited in number. Here, we investigated whether preexposure of nitrifying bacteria to Cu or Ni can induce increased tolerance to these metals. We also investigated whether changes in the tolerance of populations exposed to Cu under field conditions (long term) or in a laboratory-spiked soil (short term) occur. The method used was specifically designed to avoid possible confounding factors because of aging of metals in soil. Sterilized soils were enriched with different concentrations of Ni or Cu and were inoculated with the same soil that was either uncontaminated or had been contaminated previously with metals. Nitrification was measured after 28 d. In the laboratory-spiked soil, the exposed nitrifier community showed an increased tolerance to Ni but not to Cu. However, we found an increased tolerance to Cu in the case of a nitrifying community exposed to Cu for nearly 80 years under field conditions. These results indicate that the capacity of nitrifying bacteria to adapt to at least some metals is a widespread phenomenon. However, acquisition of tolerance to Cu may be more difficult, or require more time, compared with tolerance to Ni.