14th Meeting of the Panel on Efficacy Evaluation of Herbicides
and Plant Growth Regulators

Paris, 2015-02-23/25

 

 

The 14th Meeting of the Panel on Efficacy Evaluation of Herbicides and Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) took place in the EPPO Headquarters on 2015-02-23/25. The Panel continued its main work on the preparation of Standards for conducting field trials to evaluate the efficacy of herbicides and plant growth regulators. The Panel discussed the following two Standards and they were considered ready for country consultation with the amendments on the drafts agreed at the meeting:

  • PP 1/182 Chemical hybridizing agents in cereals except maize (revision)
  • Weeds in Asparagus officinalis (new)

 

The Panel also discussed a new Standard for the ‘Control of suckers in orchards’ and considered that further work is still needed.


Zonal examples
oilseed rape fieldA new zonal example ‘Clarification of efficacy data requirements for the authorization of a plant growth regulator in oilseed rape in the European Central authorization zone’ has been prepared to assist applicants and evaluators to interpret EPPO Standard PP 1/278 Principles of zonal data production and evaluation. The Panel considered that providing recommendations for both winter and spring oilseed rape in a single document would be too complicated and it was decided to focus the example on winter oilseed rape only. Another example addressing spring oilseed rape in the European Northern authorization zone will be prepared for the next meeting.


Resistance risk analysis
The issue of resistance risk analysis for herbicides was discussed by the Panel to reflect the outcomes of the EPPO Workshop on Herbicide Resistance Analysis in the framework of Zonal Evaluation. The Panel analysed a revised version of a paper prepared by Mr Moss and Ms den Hoed on a matrix to be used as a tool for applicants and regulators to provide an objective assessment of herbicide resistance risk assessment. The Panel appreciated the work carried out and acknowledged that the matrix includes a lot of useful information. As the Panel did not agree on whether to include the matrix in the EPPO Standard PP 1/213 Resistance risk analysis, it was recommended to prepare an article for the EPPO Bulletin which could be cited in the Standard.

 

The Panel on Efficacy Evaluation of Herbicides and Plant Growth Regulators will next meet on 2016-02-09/11 in Vienna at the kind invitation of AGES.