About the Pesticides Unit and the PPR Panel

Working in close cooperation with EU Member States, EFSA’s Pesticides Unit is responsible for the EU peer review of active substances used in plant protection products. In addition, it deals with tasks related to the setting of Maximum Residue Levels, and prepares the Annual Report on Pesticide Residues in the EU. One of the main tasks of the Unit is also to provide administrative and scientific support to the PPR Panel.

In addition, the Unit develops the work of EFSA networks in the area of pesticides, and carries out other projects within EFSA’s remit. The Unit may also provide scientific support in response to urgent requests for scientific advice from EFSA.

• Pesticides peer review
• Maximum Residue Levels

PPR Panel

The Panel on Plant Protection Products and their Residues (PPR Panel) provides independent scientific advice on the risk assessment of plant protection products and their residues. This includes in particular looking at risks for the operators, workers, residents and consumers as well as the environment, including wildlife. This helps to provide a sound foundation for European policies and legislation and supports risk managers in taking effective and timely decisions.

One of the main activities of the PPR Panel is to develop new or review existing guidance documents on the risk assessment of plant protection products, including the development of risk assessment approaches, methodologies and models. The Panel may provide opinions on the effects of specific active substances used in plant protection products or on any generic issue related to the safe use of pesticides.

The Panel works independently, openly and transparently to deliver timely scientific advice of the highest standards to support the policies and decisions of risk managers.

It carries out its work either in response to requests for scientific advice from risk managers or on its own initiative through a mechanism called self-tasking. Most commonly, the European Commission asks EFSA to provide scientific advice on a particular issue. The Panel always undertakes work on the basis of Terms of Reference which guide its approach to each question.

The Panel meets regularly in plenary sessions to discuss work in progress and to adopt finalised scientific opinions. Each opinion results from a collective decision-making process with every Panel member having an equal say.