Biological testing of plant protection products

The State Gazette promulgated Ordinance No. 19 (SG issue 90 of 15 November 2016) on the biological testing of plant protection products. The Ordinance regulates the procedure and conditions for biological testing of plant protection products (PPP), as well as the processes for approval and control of facilities for conducting biological testing.

The biological testing of PPP is carried out in order to establish the efficacy of the products when used on plants and plant products, by determining the effect of a given product on the control of harmful organisms and on plant growth.

Ordinance No. 19 on the biological testing of plant protection products has been in force since 15 November 2016. It regulates the conditions for the placing on the market or import of PPP intended for biological testing and designates the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) as the main authority for biological testing of PPP on the territory of the country.

For the performance of the activities under this Ordinance, as well as for the provision of services to natural and legal persons, fees are collected in accordance with the tariff under Art. 3, para. 4, respectively the price list under Art. 3, para. 5 of the Law on the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency.

The biological testing of PPP is carried out in accordance with the rules of Good Experimental Practice and in compliance with the standards for efficacy testing of PPP, as laid down by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO).

When PPP are biologically tested, containing one or more active substances which are not contained in an authorised product, or are contained in a product authorised for use against another harmful organism, the treated plants and plant products shall be destroyed in accordance with the specific characteristics of the treated crop.

Plant protection products are tested for at least one growing season.

Biological testing of plant protection products in approved facilities of natural and legal persons

Approved facilities for conducting biological testing shall be issued a certificate for biological testing of PPP for the following groups of crops and objects:

• perennial crops;
• arable crops;
• vegetable crops;
• greenhouse crops;
• ornamental species;
• forest species;
• essential oil crops;
• storage facilities and stored produce.

The term of validity of an issued certificate for biological testing of PPP may be extended up to three months before its expiry under the conditions and in accordance with the procedure of Art. 74 and 75 of the Plant Protection Act.

Holders of certificates for biological testing of PPP must annually, by 31 December, submit to the Central Administration of the BFSA information on the quantity of plant protection products (by name or by product code) used for biological testing in the facility during the current calendar year.

For biological testing of PPP in approved facilities of natural and legal persons, applicants shall submit to the Central Administration of the BFSA a testing declaration in the prescribed form.

The declarations shall be submitted within the following deadlines:

• 30 June – for PPP to be tested during the spring-summer period of the current calendar year;
• 30 November – for PPP to be tested during the autumn-winter period of the current calendar year.

Ordinance No. 19 on the biological testing of plant protection products can be found HERE