Plant protection products

Glyphosate is a herbicidal substance that can act on all plants. Because of its effectiveness, it is widely used in agricultural, forest and non-agricultural areas. In December 2017, the European Union re-approved its use for a further five years. Following the controversies of recent years, in particular regarding its carcinogenic potential, the assessment of products containing glyphosate has been strengthened at European level. In 2018, France initiated a national glyphosate withdrawal plan designed to phase out its main uses, while ensuring that farmers are not left without any alternatives. ANSES conducts studies on this substance and is responsible for issuing marketing authorisations for products containing it.  

Biological pest control products include macro-organisms (invertebrates, insects, mites and nematodes) and plant protection products containing micro-organisms (fungi, bacteria, viruses), chemical mediators such as sex pheromones (chemical substances produced by insects that play a role in sexual attraction) and natural plant, animal or mineral-based substances. In a context advocating reduced use of plant protection products, biological control is one solution that has been identified for reaching the goals of the Ecophyto 2018 plan. For this reason, the marketing and assessment procedures need to be adjusted. Indeed, while the principles of biological control promote the use of processes and interactions that already exist in nature, these products can present risks for the environment. ANSES has therefore been asked to assess them.