News

The new dRR (draft Registration Report) templates for plant protection products (PPP) containing micro-organisms are mandatory for all applications starting from November 21st, 2024. These changes align with updated EU regulations governing the authorisation and evaluation of such products. Specifically, these regulations aim to improve the evaluation process and to ensure […]

Under the Great Britain Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR) Great Britain maintains its own independent list of biocidal active substance suppliers, referred to as the GB Article 95 List.  Biocidal active substance and product suppliers included on the EU Article 95 List under the BPR (EU) No. 528/2012 at the end of […]

PRIMo is a pesticide evaluation tool developed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). It is used in dietary risk assessments of EU maximum residues levels (MRLs) for pesticides in food, or proposals for MRLs. It is a calculation model that estimates the chronic and acute dietary consumer exposure to pesticide […]

The Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR) (EU) 2019/1009 establishes the requirements for the labelling of Fertilising Products (FPs). On February 27th, 2023, the European Commission published amending (EU) the FPR as regards to the digital labelling of EU fertilising products. Approximately a year after (the 22nd of January 2024) Co-legislators reached a […]

On the 19th of June 2024, the new Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/1487 came into force. This Regulation establishes a work programme for the gradual review of safeners and synergists on the market in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. Moreover, the Regulation also outlines the requirements that need to be fulfilled […]

In late June Fera Science held a webinar entitled: “From Research to Regulation: A deep dive into bacteriophage applications and challenges”. As the name suggests, the webinar focused on bacteriophages (viruses that devour bacteria) as a form of biocontrol against microbial pathogens. The webinar featured five guest speakers who discussed academic […]

In late June Fera Science held a webinar entitled: “From Research to Regulation: A deep dive into bacteriophage applications and challenges”. As the name suggests, the webinar focused on bacteriophages (viruses that devour bacteria) as a form of biocontrol against microbial pathogens. The webinar featured five guest speakers who discussed academic […]

On the 7th of June of 2024, Kerona Scientific attended the stakeholder workshop regarding the study to support the inclusion of new microorganisms and processes under CMC 7 of the Fertilising Products Regulation (EU) 2019/2009 (the FPR) presented by the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT). To start, a quick view was […]

The Notified Body CerTrust Ltd. presented an insightful webinar last week on the latest Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1682 which amends the EU Fertilising Products Regulation [FPR] (EU) 2019/1009 and allows processed manure to become a component material for fertilising products under the Component Material Category (CMC) 10 (Delegated Regulation – […]

At the 2024 Dublin Biocides Symposium, Dr Mervyn Parr, Risk Manager at the Pesticide Registration and Control Division (PRCD) in Ireland, provided an update on the state of biocides in the EU and ongoing developments from an Irish perspective.The Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) No. 528/2012 (“the BPR”) is an integral part […]

At the 2024 Dublin Biocides Symposium, Zameer Bhunnoo, Biocides Policy Advisor at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the UK, discussed key regulatory developments in the UK and future reform to the GB Biocidal Products Regulation. The HSE is proposing to make technical updates to Annex II and Annex III […]

Kerona Scientific is delighted to be attending the upcoming CropLife UK Conference in York. We are looking forward to catching up with our UK clients in person and learning about the latest UK regulatory developments. If you would like to arrange a meeting, please get in touch with us at info@kerona.ie

The Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published a podcast on the highlights of the latest BPC meeting in May 2024 regarding the opinions that were adopted at that meeting. The podcast is available here: https://smartlink.ausha.co/scpodcast/2024-bpc It is important to note that applicants need to fully […]

During the 2024 Dublin Biocides Symposium in March, Joe Pearson, Evie Jenkins and Dr Stephen Rayner from Broadway Colours, a masterbatch manufacturing company, gave a presentation about the practical implications of treated articles containing antimicrobial masterbatches. A masterbatch is a concentrated formula of colourants, performance enhancing additives, or a combination of […]

The amendment to the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) (EU) No 528/2012 regarding a further extension of the duration of the work programme for the systematic examination of all existing biocidal active substances (‘the review programme’) until 31 December 2030 has now been published in the Official Journal of the EU. In the […]

On May 16th, 2024, The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the highly anticipated proposals for its alternative transitional registration model (ATRm) for UK REACH, in a move that aims to clarify its policy direction for the controversial regulation. It follows post-Brexit concerns from industry about the […]

Kerona Scientific was delighted to host Mike Prince from the European Ozone Trade Association Ltd., UK as a speaker at the Dublin Biocide Symposium in March 2024. Mike gave a detailed update on the situation for in-situ generated biocides, like ozone, under the Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 (“the BPR”). […]

Kerona Scientific was delighted to host Dr Boris Van Berlo from Biocides for Europe (CEFIC) as a speaker at the Dublin Biocide Symposium in March 2024. Dr Boris gave a detailed explanation of how to navigate through the different biocide documentation and webpages to make sure companies do not miss any […]

During the Dublin Biocides Symposium 2024, Lucas Kalker (Senior Policy Advisor, Ctgb) gave an insightful look into the harmonisation of mutual recognition under the BPR and the trends that have appeared over recent years. The current system allows for Member States who disagree with a decision to voice their concerns formally […]

During the 2024 Dublin Biocides Symposium in March, Trine Østergaard Jensen, Berit Lindegaard and Dr Jonas Stenbæk from the Danish Technological Institute (DTI), gave a presentation about the challenges and goals of efficacy testing for preservatives (PT7 & PT9). The DTI performs various accredited tests including testing of biocides according to […]

During the 2024 Dublin Biocides Symposium in March, Hazel O’Keefe, Partner at law firm Keller & Heckman in Brussels, spoke about the current status of treated articles according to the Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) No. 528/2012 (the BPR), Article 58. A treated article is defined as any substance, mixture or article […]

Kerona Scientific attended the 17th Fitoymposium on March 13th to 15th in Seville, Spain. This three-day gathering brought together experts, public and private organizations, and professionals from the plant protection and fertilizer sectors. The main discussions during the event were regarding food quality and safety at European level; the new updates […]

At the Dublin Biocides Symposium 2024, Kerona Scientific was delighted to host Dr Joost van Galen, Chair of the Biocidal Product Committee (BPC) at the European Chemicals Agency. Joost offered a comprehensive overview of the current activities undertaken by the BPC. The BPC serves as a pivotal body responsible for providing […]

Kerona Scientific was delighted to host Kerstin Schrade, the managing director of Vali Consulting GmbH at the Dublin Biocide Symposium on the 21st of March, 2024. Kerstin provided a detailed insight into the intricate world of national restrictions in self-service for biocidal products and to answer the question “Is a national […]

On 15th February 2024, ECHA hosted an online webinar to introduce the transition of the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) into the International Uniform Chemical Information Database (IUCLID). In the past, SPCs were prepared with another online tool – the SPC editor. However, as of 12th February 2024, SPCs must now […]

Greg O’Brien and Dr Chrysoula Pateraki from Kerona Scientific are looking forward to attending PestEx, the BPCA Pest Management Show in London on March 13th and 14th, 2024. PestEx is the UK’s biggest trade show and conference for pest management https://pestex.org/ Please contact info@kerona.ie to arrange a meeting at PestEx to discuss any […]

Dr Irene McGrath and Rosa Mª Miras López from Kerona Scientific are looking forward to attending the 17º Symposium Nacional de Sanidad Vegetal (Fitosymposium) in Seville 13, 14, 15 March 2024. The National Plant Health Symposium is organised by Colegio Oficial de Ingenieros Agrícolas de Andalucía Occidental, and will focus on […]

At the Dublin PPP Symposium in November 2023, Bart Vanhoof from UPL, Netherlands, shared his industry feedback regarding experiences with the Plant Protection Products Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009. Along with Regulation 1107/2009 are several associated legislations such as the MRL Regulation (396/2005), Transparency legislation, Regulation 1272/2008 for classification and labeling, and […]

Kerona Scientific attended Expocida Iberia 2024 on February 15th and 16th at IFEMA in Madrid. This two-day gathering brought together experts, organisations, and professionals from the pest management and environmental health sectors. The central theme of this year’s Expocida was changes in the regulatory framework. As industry adapts to this changing landscape, it is […]

At the Dublin Plant Protection Symposium in November 2023, Dr Maristella Rubbiani, Policy Officer at Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission, talked about the way forward in the EU for co-formulants in plant protection products. Dr Maristella explained why the assessment of Plant Protection Products (PPPs) and […]

Dr Irene McGrath and Luis Fresco Dorrio from Kerona Scientific are looking forward to attending Expocida in Madrid on February 15th and 16th, 2024. It is one of the most important events in the Pest Control and Environmental Health sector, which will be held at Pavilion 10 of IFEMA MADRID. Please […]

Laurent Oger, Deputy Director General at CropLife Europe, spoke at Kerona Scientific’s 4th Dublin PPP Symposium in November 2023. To explain the most recent developments and concerns regarding the PPP Legislation in the EU: Situation for active substances (AS) and plant protection products (PPP) Since the implementation of Regulation (EC) No. […]

Monika Pawlowicz from the Polish Ministry spoke at Kerona Scientific’s 4th Dublin PPP in November 2023. Poland was the chair of the Central Zone Steering Committee (CZSC) in 2023, and Monika is the coordinator of the team responsible for risk management and regulatory decision on authorization and amendments of PPP in […]

We are pleased to announce that Alkyl (C12-16) dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC/BKC (C12-C16)) has been approved as an active substance for use in biocidal products of product-type 2 (disinfectants and algaecides not intended for direct application to humans or animals) in the European Union. The approval was published in the Official […]

At Kerona’s Dublin Plant Protection Product Symposium in November 2023, we welcomed Dr Danae Pitarokili, Chair of the Southern Member States (SMS) Steering Committee, and Head of the Department of Plant Protection Products of the Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food in Athens. In 2023, the SMS issued an updated […]

Kerona Scientific was delighted to host Darren Flynn from the UK Chemical Regulation Division (CRD) as a speaker at the Dublin Plant Protection Product Symposium in November 2023. Darren gave a detailed update on Plant Protection Product (PPP) Registration in GB, including information on the approval of new active substances, the […]

At the 100th meeting of the Biocide competent authorities (CA) in June 2023, it was decided to extend the extension of the review programme under the BPR (Regulation No. 528/2012) until December 31, 2030. Subsequent meetings in September and December 2023 discussed proposed actions for member states (MS) to ensure the […]

During the 2023 Dublin PPP Symposium in November, Jeroen Meeussen, Regulatory Adviser at IBMA spoke about the current developments in biological control in the EU. Jeroen started by presenting the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA). This organization is the voice of the biocontrol technologies industry and advocates for proportionate regulation of […]

Last week, the European Commission adopted three legislative proposals under the ‘one substance, one assessment’ concept (1S1A), a key deliverable of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, where significant tasks will be reallocated between four EU agencies, notably to ensure coherent and transparent assessments of chemicals used in products, including medical devices, […]

On the 21st and 22nd of November 2023, Kerona Scientific hosted its fourth annual Plant Protection Products (PPPs) Symposium, providing a unique opportunity to hear from and interact with industry and regulatory experts about recent developments for PPPs across Europe. Among the speakers at the symposium was Jana Johansen-Hladilova from the […]

On November 21st, during the 2023 Dublin Plant Protection Symposium, Dr Gabe Weyman, an independent consultant with a vast experience in regulatory ecotoxicology, talked about the new EFSA guidance for Birds and Mammals. Ecotoxicological guidance is being continually updated with increasing requirements making them more extensive and complex and the new […]

During the 2023 Dublin FPR Symposium on the 28th of September, Dr Theodora Nikolakopoulou, Policy Officer for Fertilising Products, DG GROW, spoke about the state of play of the Fertilising Products Regulation (EU) 2019/2009 (the FPR) and its future developments. Dr Theodora started the presentation by reviewing briefly the most important […]

On September 28th, 2023, Kerona Scientific hosted their first FPR Symposium. Among the speakers at the symposium were Dr Finbarr O’Regan and Colin Murtagh from the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine in Ireland. Their presentation focused on Ireland’s perspective regarding the regulation of fertilisers, particularly in light of the […]

Catherine Al-Haddad and Evangelia Chatzaki from Kerona Scientific attended the Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting (ABIM) on the 23rd to 25th of October 2023 in Basel, Switzerland. Exhibitors and speakers from all over the world were present, representing both industry and the regulatory bodies. This provides an excellent opportunity for delegates to […]

On the 3rd and 4th of October Dr Irene McGrath and Diego Medina attended the fifteenth edition of Fruit Attraction in Madrid. Fruit Attraction is the main fruit and vegetable fair in Spain and is one of the biggest events in the sector at European and global level. The event brought […]

Biostimulant Efficacy Testing was explored in Kerona’s very first Dublin FPR Symposium on the Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR, Regulation (EU) 2019/1009) on the 28th of September 2023. In fact, the plethora of questions received from the attendees showed that there is a lot of uncertainty around the standards for designing efficacy […]

On September 28th 2023, Kerona Scientific held their first Dublin FPR Symposium dealing with key regulatory aspects relevant to the registration of products under the Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR, Regulation (EU) 2019/1009). Neal Sanders, Operations Manager at IntraCrop Ltd, UK, presented his industry insight into the FPR from a Plant Biostimulant […]

Dr Ildikó Varga and Júlia Ferenczi, experts in plant biostimulants at CerTrust Notified Body 2806, spoke at the recent Dublin FPR Symposium, sharing their experience with CE Marking of plant biostimulants under the Fertilising Products Regulation (EU) 2019/2009 (the FPR). There are some borderline cases between the FPR and the Plant […]

Catherine Aqleh Alhaddad and Evangelia Chatzaki from Kerona Scientific are looking forward to attending ABIM in Basel, Switzerland from 23 – 25 October 2023. During the three days over 1500 delegates from over 50 countries representing more than 500 companies and organisations from all over the globe can be expected to […]

Fruit Attraction 2023 Dr Irene McGrath and Diego Medina Collado from Kerona Scientific are looking forward to attending Fruit Attraction in Madrid from October 3rd to 5th, 2023. In its 15th Anniversary, Fruit Attraction will bring together more than 90,000 delegates from 135 countries looking for the latest trends in the fruit and […]

Kerona Scientific is delighted to announce our upcoming virtual Fertiliser Symposium on the 28th of September. We hope that you can join us for this exciting opportunity to hear from regulatory experts in the European fertiliser industry. Experience with CE Marking of Plant Biostimulants under the FPR, Dr. Ildikó Varga and Júlia […]

Dr Irene McGrath and Greg O’Brien from Kerona Scientific are looking forward to attend ICSCE (International Crop-Science Exhibition), India’s biggest agri inputs trade show, in New Delhi on the 7th and 8th of September 2023. Please get in touch at info@kerona.ie to arrange a meeting in New Delhi if you are […]

On the 13th of June 2023, Kerona attended the online information session on the new EFSA Bee Guidance. The guidance incorporates many new criteria to have an exhaustive analysis of the potential effects of Plant Protection Products (PPPs) on bees and other non-target arthropods. It will enter into force in the […]

Kerona Scientific recently hosted their third virtual Biocides Symposium in March 2023, featuring Gerard McElwee, Partner at Fieldfisher in Brussels, as a guest speaker. Gerard’s presentation provided insights into the various aspects involved in data access negotiations under the BPR, including the types of data which may be accessed, where to […]

At Kerona Scientific’s recent Biocide Symposium in March, Eléonore Mullier, Partner at Steptoe & Johnson, Belgium, outlined the use limitations imposed at active substance level under the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR). Eléonore explained the challenges facing applicants whereby increasingly stringent conditions are being imposed on active substance (AS) approval and renewal […]

At the Dublin Biocide Symposium presented by Kerona Scientific Ltd, which took place on the 28th and 29th of March 2023, Caroline Raine, Technical Associate Director of NCEC Ricardo Energy and Environment, gave a presentation on the debated topics related to the European green deal. Her presentation discussed the chemical strategy […]

Dr. Andrea Drago from Entostudio in Italy, collaborator in the working group for PT19, spoke at the Dublin Biocides Symposium in March 2023 on the topic of field testing for the efficacy evaluation of biocides for PT18 and PT19. The discussion focused on the publication of the new 5.0 version of […]

Kerona Scientific held their third Biocide Symposium on the 28th and 29th of March 2023. The Symposium centered on several key aspects related to the registration of products and active substances under the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR, Regulation (EU) 528/2012). Dr. Catherine Linn, Head of Department, Biology, at BioGenius GmbH Germany, […]

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has recently updated its guidelines on the classification, labelling, and packaging of substances and mixtures, introducing new hazard classes to provide more accurate and detailed information on potential risks. This update specifically aims to address endocrine disruptors and persistent, bioaccumulative and mobile substances. The introduction of […]

When you apply for registration of a pesticide in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, you need to submit an assessment of surface water exposure via drainflow. If you cannot show an acceptable risk using lower tier methods, you will need to submit a higher tier drainflow exposure assessment. The HSE HTDF […]

Kerona Scientific held their third Biocide Symposium on the 28th and 29th of March 2023. The Symposium centred on several key aspects related to the registration of products and active substances under the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR, Regulation (EU) 528/2012). Erik van de Plassche, Chair of the Biocidal Products Committee (BPC), […]

At the recent Dublin Biocide Symposium organised by Kerona Scientific, Nathalie Hanon, Executive Vice President at CEHTRA in Spain, gave a presentation on her experiences with Union Authorisation (UA) and Biocidal Product Families (BPF). Nathalie started the presentation with an overview of Article 3(1)(s) of the Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) No. […]

On the 28th and 29th of March 2023, Kerona Scientific held their third virtual Dublin Biocide Symposium dealing with key regulatory aspects relevant to the registration of products and active substances under the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR, Regulation (EU) 528/2012). The first day of the symposium included presentations on EU biocide […]

At the recent Dublin Biocides Symposium presented by Kerona Scientific,  Dr Mervyn Parr, Risk Manager at the Pesticide Registration and Control Division (PRCD) in Ireland, provided insightful information about the EU biocides regulation from an Irish perspective. The slides of this presentation are available for download from the Kerona Scientific website […]

On the 13th of March 2023, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/574 was published setting out detailed rules for the identification of unacceptable co-formulants in plant protection products (PPPs) in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and Council. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/574 lays down detailed rules and […]

At Kerona Scientific’s Plant Protection Symposium, Markus Persigehl, Senior Study Director from tier 3 solutions GmbH, Germany, provided an in-depth view of the considerations required for addressing data requirements for bees. Around 70% of plant species are pollinated by bees. Honeybees, bumble bees and solitary bees are the bee species considered […]

At the recent Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) meeting on the 8th of March, the ECHA BPC announced their approval of nitrogen generated from ambient air as a low-risk active substance for Annex I to the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR). Additionally, the BPC has shown their support for Union Authorization (UA) of […]

Day two of Kerona Scientific’s virtual Dublin PPP Symposium featured a presentation by Dr Gábor Tőkés on PPP and yield enhancer registration in Hungary. This focused on three main topics: Solutions for PPP authorisation capacity problems, handling borderline cases/non-PPP and parallel authorisation systems for fertilisers. Dr Tőkés explained that products used […]

Kerona Scientific held their third PPP Symposium dealing with key regulatory aspects relevant to the registration of products and active substances under the Plant Protection Products Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009. The second day of the symposium included presentations on CLH processes for active substances, plant biostimulants and fertilisers, and updates from […]

Welcome to the 8th edition of the BPR Vademecum on the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) (EU) No 528/2012. Our intention in publishing this Vademecum is to provide you with a handy reference guide on all aspects of the Regulation. The Vademecum begins with a user guide that includes an overview of […]

At Kerona Scientific’s virtual Plant Protection Symposium in November 2022, Dra Elisabetta Garatti from Expedia MRCC Srl, spoke about the procedures in the authorization process of Plant Protection Products (PPP) in Italy. After a quick review of the European System of Zonal Authorization, Elisabetta explained the Italian authorization procedures. Article 75 […]

The EFSA guidance document on risk assessment for birds and mammals published in 2009 will soon be replaced by a new version. In November 2021, EFSA closed the public consultation on the new guidance, which will likely have similar principles to the 2009 version, but with more detailed, improved and generally […]

Camilla Thorin from the Swedish Chemicals Agency (KEMI) delivered an interesting presentation during our recent PPP Symposium to give updates on the Northern Zone (NZ) in relation to plant protection products. There is ongoing work in determining unacceptable co-formulants in the NZ phys-chem group. For ongoing product authorisations which will be […]

Dr Flavio Marchetto, Scientific Officer at the ECHA Classification and Labelling Unit, spoke at the recent Dublin Plant Protection Symposium, presented by Kerona Scientific Ltd. in November 2022 and explained the CLH process for plant protection product active substances.   The general CLH process starts with the submitters, manufacturers or member […]

At the recent Dublin Plant Protection Symposium, presented by Kerona Scientific Ltd, Caroline Raine, Technical Associate Director of Ricardo Energy and Environment spoke about the Mixture Assessment Factor (MAF) and its Implications for the PPP Industry. Caroline explained how the European green deal is changing the panorama in the PPP industry […]

Dr Irene McGrath and Greg O’Brien from Kerona Scientific are looking forward to attending ICSCE in Dubai on the 15th and 16th of February 2023. Please get in touch at info@kerona.ie to arrange a meeting in Dubai if you are around.

Kerona Scientific has been delivering tailored training courses for many years and we are delighted to expand our range with the launch of two new Fertiliser Webinars. Webinar 1 – Overview of the FPR Tuesday 7th February 2023, 10.00h-11.00h GMT (80,-€) This webinar will cover the history of fertilisers regulation in the […]

At the 2022 Plant Protection Symposium, Darren Flynn of the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) presented an overview of the registration of PPPs in GB. Darren provided an overview of the structure of the key players in PPP Regulation in GB, the interplay between the HSE, the Chemicals Regulation Division […]

On November 29th – 30th 2022, Kerona Scientific held their third Dublin PPP Symposium dealing with key regulatory aspects relevant to the registration of products and active substances under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. The first day of the symposium included presentations on future outlook for pesticides, data requirements for bees, and […]

At Kerona Scientific’s virtual Dublin Plant Protection Symposium in November 2022, Ian Wheals, Head of Regulatory Policy at Syngenta, shared his experiences with European Registration of Plant Protection Products. Ian began with an overview of the farm-to-fork strategy and the REFIT report on PPP Regulation. He reiterated the unrealistic objective of […]

On December 1, 2022, Kerona participated in the “Workshop on plant protection products – Preparation of microbial dossiers based on the new legislation” conducted by the Ctgb at its headquarters in Ede, The Netherlands. The workshop focused on recent changes to the current rules relevant to microorganisms, due to the establishment […]

On 3rd March 2021, the European Commission published Regulation (EU) 2021/383 amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 listing co-formulants which are not accepted for inclusion in plant protection products. It lists the co-formulants which are banned in the composition of plant protection products and adjuvants. The Regulation entered into […]

Our Regulatory Consultant Amanda Araujo de França will participate in the Ctgb’s “Workshop on Plant Protection Products – The preparation of microbial active substance and product dossiers based on the new legislation” on the 1st of December 2022 in Ede, Netherlands. Please contact us at info@kerona.ie  if you need regulatory support […]

Only one week to go! Register now and make sure not to miss the Dublin PPP Symposium! Third annual virtual symposium – a short, relevant and focused symposium which provides a chance for the plant protection industry to catch up with what’s happening in the sector from a regulatory viewpoint and […]

Kerona Scientific is delighted to announce that Shannon White has joined our team in the UK. Shannon has a Masters in Chemistry from the University of East Anglia. She is an experienced regulatory affairs specialist having worked in a UK consultancy on REACH regulatory activities, project management and literature reviews. Shannon […]

Dr Irene McGrath is attending ABIM in Basel. Please get in touch at info@kerona.ie if you would like to arrange a meeting.

Kerona Scientific is delighted to welcome two new expert members to our growing EU regulatory team, based in our Spanish office. Luis Guillermo Fresco Dorrio Luis is an environmentalist toxicologist with a degree in Environmental Sciences from Universidad de Vigo, Ourense, a Master’s degree in water treatment and purification management and […]

The European Commission has opened a consultation period to gather feedback on the draft act to amend the CLP Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008) – see Hazardous chemicals – updated rules on classification, labelling and packaging (europa.eu) The purpose of the new draft act is to bring the CLP Regulation into line […]

A new EFSA draft guidance document for environmental risk assessment for bees is open now for public consultation until October 3rd 2022. When accessing the available documents, you will notice that, as for other non-target organisms, the complexity of regulatory guidelines is increasing. The document has more than 100 pages and […]

From September 5th to 9th, the Kerona team attended the course on Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) of Plant Protection Products: Current Situation and Future Developments, held at the Department of Life Sciences of the University of Coimbra in Portugal. The course covered aspects related to ecological risk assessment of non-target organisms, […]

Earlier this year, ECHA has announced that several applications for Union Authorisation (UA) have been submitted without a prior pre-submission consultation, a legal requirement according to BPR Annex III, point 2. Prospective applicants for UA application should submit a pre-submission application through R4BP (UP-APP), at the latest 6 months before the […]

Kerona Scientific has been delivering tailored training courses for many years and we are delighted to start our new series of Biocides Webinars. A detailed content description for each webinar can be found here. An Overview of the Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) No. 528/2012 €80.00 Tuesday 13th September 2022 at 10:00h-11:00h GMT Data […]

The new Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR) (Regulation (EU) 2019/1009) entered into force in July 2022, repealing the Fertiliser Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003. The scope of the new FPR regulation has been extended to include biostimulants, organic fertilisers, organo-mineral fertilisers, and growing media, and harmonises EU requirements related to quality, safety, and […]

In June 2022, the Management Board of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) selected Dr Sharon McGuinness as Executive Director. Dr Sharon McGuinness, an Irish national, is the CEO of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) in Ireland since 2018. Dr McGuinness was one of the candidates preselected by the European Commission […]

We are delighted to announce that Dovydas Vilcinskas has joined the Kerona Scientific team. Dovy has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science from Dublin City University. He is fluent in both Lithuanian, and English and also speaks Russian. Prior to joining Kerona, Dovy worked with a specialist healthcare packaging […]

Biocidal active substance and product suppliers included on the EU Article 95 List under the BPR (EU) No. 528/2012 at the end of the EU exit transition period on 31 December 2020 were automatically added to the GB Article 95 List. However, if you wish to remain on the GB Article […]

Two weeks ago, the European Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) was launched. The aim is to develop a next-generation chemical risk assessment, incorporating both human health and the environment in a “One Health” approach. It will support the the European Union’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the European Green […]

The Kerona team recently attended the event entitled ‘EU Fertilising Products – How to CE mark your products’, held by ‘The Grow F2 Fertilisers Team’ of the European Commission. The workshop featured the presentation of several experts in the area and gave an overview of the new requirements for the approval […]

The European Commission received a request by Denmark on July 2nd, 2020 on whether a product containing 2.4% Alkyl (C12-16) dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC/BKC (C12-C16), marketed in Denmark by the manufacturer as a long-acting cleaning agent, is a biocidal product as defined in Article 3(1), point (a), of Regulation (EU) No […]

We are delighted to announce that three new team members have joined the Kerona Scientific team in Ireland and in Spain. Lisa Gleichmann and Oisin Kearns have joined the team in Dublin. Lisa has a BAgrSc in Agricultural Science from University College Dublin and a Masters degree (MAgrSc) also from UCD. […]

In February, Kerona Scientific hosted a two-day virtual Biocides Symposium. Donal Lynch, Head of Biocides Registrations at the Pesticide Registration and Control Divisions (PRCD) in Ireland, opened the symposium with a presentation that explained how the EU biocide regulations have developed historically, how the Irish Department of Agriculture has internally adapted […]

At the Dublin Biocides Symposium in February 2022, Dr. Cindy van der Meer, Account Manager for the Dutch Board for the Authorization of Plant Protection Products and Biocides (Ctgb), gave an interesting presentation covering updates from the Ctgb on Regulatory Aspects. Five years ago, the Ctgb became popular as a choice […]

Catherine Alhaddad, Senior Regulatory Consultant at Kerona Scientific, presented a webinar organised by CHCS (Chemical Hazards Communication Society) about the regulation of endocrine disruptors in the European Union (EU). Catherine spoke about practical implications for stakeholders in the EU dealing with substances and products that need to undergo assessment for potential […]

At the recent Dublin Biocide Symposium organised by Kerona Scientific, Dr. Helena Gräf, Head of Biocide Regulatory Affairs at Ecolab in Germany, gave a presentation on “Biocide Opportunities and Challenges from an Industry Perspective”. Dr. Gräf started with an overview of the aims of the Biocidal Products Regulation – harmonisation to […]

In February 2022, Kerona Scientific organised the Dublin Biocide Symposium with many interesting presentations from various representatives from Industry and Ministries. Nick Meakin, CEO at Aqualution Systems, brought a fascinating presentation on “Experiences with In-Situ Active Chlorine”. Active chlorine is an in situ active substance (i.e., it is generated at the point […]

At Kerona Scientific’s virtual Biocides Symposium in February, Dr Nicola Gregg, Head of Biocides Operational Policy at HSE UK, spoke about the new Biocidal Products Regulation in Great Britain. The new GB regime reflects the framework of the EU BPR, but the two systems operate independently. Since the UK exited the […]

The Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) is responsible for preparing the opinions of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on several issues, including the approval of active substances and Union Authorisations of biocidal products. At Kerona Scientific’s virtual Biocides Symposium, held in February this year, BPC chair Erik van de Plassche spoke about […]

At the recent Dublin Biocides Symposium organised by Kerona Scientifc, David Norris, owner of DNAL (David Norris Laboratories in the UK) gave a presentation on Phys-Chem and Storage Stability Testing for Biocidal Products. Storage stability testing includes physical tests and active substance analysis, to ensure that the product is still useful […]

At Kerona’s 2021 Dublin PPP Symposium, Agata Jakubowska of Applied Insect Science (APIS) gave a helpful overview of new developments in the approval of microbial active substances under the PPP Regulation. Microorganisms are one of several categories of biopesticides, along with natural substances, semiochemicals and beneficial organisms. The presentation began with […]

At the 2021 Dublin Plant Protection Symposium, Dr Dimitra Kardassi and Alessia Verani of EFSA, gave a presentation on various new aspects of the EFSA peer review. To start with, the four pillars of the Transparency Regulation 2019/1381, which is applicable for new dossiers and applications submitted on or after 27th […]

Kerona’s virtual symposium ‘Innovation in the EU Regulation of Plant Protection Products’ was concluded with a very interesting presentation by Dr Mike Carroll from Eden Research on the registration of biopesticides in the EU under Regulation 1107/2009. The global picture of biopesticide regulations is mixed: there is specific legislation in some […]

At the recent Dublin PPP Symposium held by Kerona Scientific, Dr. Stefania Lombardi and Alessandro Nerini from the Italian consultancy SILC Fertilizzanti, offered a very informative presentation on Plant Biostimulants under the Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR) 2019/1009. The new FPR will enter into force on 16 July 2022 and will replace […]

The 6th Edition of our acclaimed BPR Vademecum is now available to purchase in print and digital versions. The BPR (Biocidal Products Regulation, No. 528/2012) is the regulatory framework concerning the making available on the market and the use of biocidal products in the EU. Kerona’s BPR Vademecum contains a User […]

At the 2021 Dublin Plant Protection Symposium, Laurent Oger, Director for Regulatory Affairs at CropLife Europe, spoke about the “Status of the Regulation 1107/2009 – Current Challenges and Opportunities” He started by describing the main issues currently going on with regulation 1107/2009: problems with the zonal system, the ability of authorities […]

We are delighted to announce that Eimear Deery has joined the Kerona Scientific team in Ireland. Eimear joined Kerona after graduating from University College Dublin with a BSc in Agri-Environmental Sciences. At Kerona, Eimear prepares product dossiers and risk assessments for biocides and plant protection products, from national biocide applications under […]

At the Dublin Plant Protection Symposium in December 2021, Dr Christine Snaith gave a presentation titled “The Latest from the UK – Operating a GB Pesticides Regime”. She is Head of Plant Protection Products, HSE/Chemical Regulation Division (CRD) in the UK. Christine began the presentation with the main changes that have […]

In November 2021, Kerona Scientific attended the Applicants’ Conference 2021 organized by the German Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) and received first-hand information about the latest developments in the field of plant protection product approval in Germany. Since 2017, the BVL has been undergoing a reorganization, which […]

At the Dublin Plant Protection Symposium in December 2021 Natalia Nogueira de Diego spoke on “Updates from the Southern Zone”. Natalia is the Head of the Spanish Plant Protection Products Register in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fish (MAPA). Spain has just started chairing the Southern Member State Steering Committee […]

At the 2021 Dublin Plant Protection Symposium, Mariann Leps, advisor at the Agriculture and Food Board in Estonia, presented an “Update from the Northern Zone”. The Northern Zone (NZ) steering committee (NZSC) is chaired for one year on a rotating basis. The chair in 2021 has been Estonia, and Sweden will […]

At the 2021 Dublin PPP Symposium, Sadhbh O’Dwyer from the Pesticides Registration and Control Division (PRCD) of the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine spoke about “Updates from the Central Zone”. Ireland is currently chairing the Central Zone Steering Committee (CZSC), and Sadhbh represents Ireland at their meetings. Sadhbh […]

At the 2021 Dublin Plant Protection Symposium, Dr Nigel Uttley of Enigma Marketing Research gave a presentation titled “Patent searching for generic agrochemical companies”. Patent data are essential for generic companies, so they can know when it’s possible to enter the market. As Dr Uttley noted, some 42 major commercial active […]

The virtual symposium with live presentations hosted by Kerona Scientific will be held next week Tuesday 30th November and Wednesday 1st December 2021 (09:00h to 12:00h GMT/10:00h-13:00h CET). The theme of the programme ‘Innovation in the EU Regulation of Plant Protection Products’ was chosen after taking into account feedback from last […]

The virtual symposium with live presentations hosted by Kerona Scientific will be held  Tuesday 30th November and Wednesday 1st December 2021 (09:00h to 12:00h GMT/10:00h-13:00h CET). The theme of the programme ‘Innovation in the EU Regulation of Plant Protection Products’ was chosen after taking into account feedback from last year’s attendees […]

The HSE UK published a Biocides Bulletin this week with some important information on keeping active substances in the Great Britain Review Programme. Over 50 active substance/product type combinations that were being evaluated in the EU Review Programme have not yet been supported in GB. The HSE has created open invitations […]

We are delighted to announce that Amanda Araujo de França has joined the Kerona Scientific team in Ireland. Amanda has a Master’s degree in Chemistry from University of Paraná in Brazil and a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering from University of Viçosa in Brazil. She is currently completing her PhD dissertation […]

Kerona has been delivering training courses for many years, ranging from webinars and workshops to bespoke training delivered either remotely or in person. Our courses are tailored to the biocides and plant protection industries, with a series of modules designed to provide an overview of the regulatory environment. This week we […]

The first amendment to the new Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR) has been introduced. The FPR, Regulation (EU) No. 2019/1009 will completely replace the older fertilisers regulation (Regulation (EC) No. 2003/2003) from 16 July 2022. Fertilising products that meet the harmonised requirements laid down in the FPR can receive the CE mark […]

Due to the difficulties with international travel during the global pandemic Kerona Scientific will not be able to attend the ACE in Shanghai in person this year. We would like to meet with you to discuss your regulatory needs for product registrations in Europe and we are offering to meet you […]

Producers of disinfectant products containing the active substances commonly known as ADBAC/BKC and DDAC should be getting ready to meet the requirements of the EU Biocidal Products Regulation. An approval date of 1st November 2022 has been set for both ADBAC/BKC (Alkyl (C12-16) dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, or benzalkonium chloride) and DDAC […]

Under Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009, if an active substance in a plant protection product has been listed as a Candidate for Substitution (CfS), then a comparative assessment (CA) is necessary for product authorisation. At Kerona Scientific’s virtual Dublin Plant Protection Symposium, held in December 2020, Guy Gibson of consultancy service Enhanced […]

The Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) is responsible for preparing the opinions of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on several issues, including approval of active substances and Union authorisation of biocidal products. At Kerona Scientific’s virtual Biocides Symposium, held in March this year, BPC chair Erik van de Plassche spoke about the […]

We are delighted to announce that Diego López Arias is joining the Kerona Scientific team based in Spain. Diego joins Kerona having worked for 3 years as a risk assessor and regulatory toxicologist with Tragsatec where he worked closely with the Spanish Ministry for Health and European authorities such as EFSA […]

New guidance available for accessing the Northern Ireland Biocide market The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) website has been updated to outline changes to processes and explain how the EU Biocidal Products Regulations (EU BPR) regulations continue to apply in Northern Ireland. If you wish to make biocidal products or treated […]

Applications for product authorisation and active substance approval need to be resubmitted to the HSE by 29 June 2021. From 1 January 2021 applications for product authorisation and active substance approval are being evaluated under the GB Biocidal Products Regulations. As the HSE no longer has access to EU IT systems, […]

At the recent Dublin Biocide Symposium, several presenters gave their experiences of working within the framework of the BPR from an industry and consultancy perspective. Mike McGrath, Managing Director of Necon Technologies Ltd., Ireland finds the BPR a “torture” as it is very complex and technically dense. He explained that while […]

A list of co-formulants that are banned in plant protection products (PPPs) and adjuvants has been published in an amendment to the PPP Regulation (Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009). Co-formulants are considered unacceptable in PPP if either their residues or their use will have a harmful effect on human […]

A major update to the SANCO guidance document on zonal evaluation, mutual recognition, withdrawal and amendment of authorisations under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 (SANCO/13169/2010 Rev. 11) was published on 25 January 2021. This guidance document was last updated in 2010 and the latest version is a major revision which applies to […]

The Pesticide Registration and Control Division (PRCD) in Ireland held an excellent Industry Symposium on Biocidal Products in March 2020, which included a mini-workshop to explain the biocide notification process, requirements and common pitfalls to avoid. The presentations from this Symposium are still available on the PRCD website and are a […]

At the virtual Dublin Plant Protection Symposium held on 1-2 December 2020, Dr. Katja Bidovec, Head of the Plant Protection Products Sector at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food in Slovenia, presented the status of zonal authorisations in the Central Zone. Dr. Bidovec opened her presentation by describing the plans […]

On December 1st – 2nd 2020, Kerona Scientific held their first PPP symposium dealing with key regulatory aspects relevant to the registration of products and active substances under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. Most of the first day of the symposium was focused on the zonal authorisation processes in the three different […]

The 5th Edition of our acclaimed BPR Vademecum is now available to purchase in print and digital versions. The BPR (Biocidal Products Regulation, No. 528/2012) is the regulatory framework concerning the making available on the market and the use of biocidal products in the EU. Kerona’s BPR Vademecum contains a User […]

New Obligations for Biocides Registrations in Ireland for hazardous products from 1st January 2021 From 1st January 2021 poison centre notifications for mixtures for consumer use or professional use must be submitted to the ECHA submission portal. The Poisons Centre Notification (PCN) format and tools, along with Q&A’s are available on […]

The PRCD in Ireland organised a very successful Industry Symposium on Biocidal Products in March 2020.  Following on from this Symposium, Kerona Scientific Ltd. is delighted to announce that this year we will be organising a virtual Dublin Biocide Symposium on Tuesday 23rd – Wednesday 24th March 2021 with contributions from […]

Kerona has been delivering training courses for many years, ranging from webinars and workshops to bespoke training delivered either remotely or in person. Our courses are tailored to the biocides and plant protection industries, with a series of modules designed to provide an overview of the regulatory environment.   We are […]

Kerona Scientific held a very successful Plant Protection Symposium on 1-2 December 2020, with a range of speakers represented from UK and EU Ministries, Consultancies and Industry.   Darren Flynn of the UK CRD (HSE) presented an update from the UK with respect to changes in . Darren noted that the […]

The updated 2nd edition of Kerona Scientific’s CLP Desktop Companion is now available. This 160-page booklet is designed to be a handy reference to the key aspects of the CLP Regulation, (EC) No 1272/2008. The published Regulation, which addresses the classification, labelling and packaging requirements for chemical mixtures, runs to an unwieldy […]

Unique Opportunity to hear from and interact with industry and regulatory experts • Virtual Conference • Tuesday 1st – Wednesday 2nd December 2020 (10:00 -13:00) • Registration fee  €240 which includes full access and participation at the virtual conference and access to the video recordings after the event • Save 10%  […]

If an active substance contained in a plant protection product has been designated a Candidate for Substitution, a “comparative assessment” will be required for product authorisation. The European Commission has created a list of Candidates for Substitution – active substances that are approved under the plant protection products regulation (Regulation (EC) […]

Kerona Scientific are delighted to announce our participation in this year’s Agri Business Global Trade Summit (21-25 September). The Trade Summit online business platform will allow us to connect with you during Advance Week (14-20 September) and during Continued Engagement (21 September – 23 October). If you would like to arrange […]

EFSA is making its plant pest survey cards available in an easy-to-use, interactive format. The cards are designed to help EU Member States to plan their annual surveys of quarantine pests to current international standards. They contain vital information such as the pest’s host range, distribution, biology and risk factors, as […]

Kerona has had many queries recently regarding Article 95 access under the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR, (EU) No. 528/2012). Many companies have requested assistance to be included in the Article 95 list of biocidal substance and product suppliers. What is the Article 95 list? Article 95 of the BPR requires that […]

The European Commission has issued a new notice to stakeholders regarding how the UK’s withdrawal from the EU will affect the field of biocidal products. Although the UK withdrew from the EU in February, EU law, including the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR, Regulation (EU) No 528/2012), still applies to the UK […]

A large number of products that contain chemical mixtures are placed on the EU market and used by the general public and professionals in their everyday lives and working environments. Generally, chemical products are considered to be safe if their use instructions are followed. However, inappropriate use or accidents can cause […]

Structure-activity relationship (SAR) and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models, collectively referred to as (Q)SARs, are mathematical models that can be used to predict the properties of compounds based on knowledge of their chemical structure. The basic principle of (Q)SARs is that chemical substances that are structurally similar will have similar properties, which […]

We are often asked whether a similar approach can be taken to conducting a risk assessment for a Biocidal product as for a plant protection product. The first observation we would make is that biocidal product risk assessments have a high variability in approach in contrast to the generally more harmonised […]

The traditional risk assessment for Plant Protection Products (PPP) in the EU focused only on the acute effects on honey bees. A new EFSA guidance has been developed, which covers more risk scenarios, and also considers bumble bees and solitary bees. Dr Neus Rodriguez- Sanchez, of Kerona Scientific,  presented a poster […]

May 19, 2020 Kerona has been delivering training courses for many years, ranging from webinars and workshops to bespoke training delivered either remotely or in person. Our courses are tailored to the biocides and plant protection industries, with a series of modules designed to provide an overview of the regulatory environment. […]

The 4th Edition of our acclaimed BPR Vademecum is now available in print and digital versions. The BPR (Biocidal Products Regulation, No. 528/2012) is the regulatory framework concerning the making available on the market and the use of biocidal products in the EU. Kerona’s BPR Vademecum contains a User Guide that […]