The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the UK has decided to add new requirements to its approval criteria after completing a re evaluation of the active substance clethodim, allowing it to continue to be used as an active ingredient in plant protection products within the UK. The conclusion of this review is based on the standards set by the European Union (EC) Regulation 1107/2009.

    HSE has evaluated newly submitted toxicity study data on the metabolite 3-chloroallyl alcohol (present in the form of 3-chloroallyl alcohol glucoside in processed foods). According to the evaluation results, HSE has added new conditions to the approval of clethodim in accordance with Article 6 (1) of the regulations.

    The main new requirements include the need to develop specialized toxicological reference values for the metabolite to determine acceptable daily allowable intake (ADI) and acute reference dose (ARfD). The relevant revisions will be reflected in the update of the active substance endpoint list, and at the same time, the specific provisions regarding the authorization of plant protection products in the UK approval text for clethodim will be adjusted accordingly.

    In the future, HSE will focus on the following aspects when reviewing authorization applications for products containing clethodim:
    The potential exposure risk of 3-chloroallyl alcohol glucoside residues in plants to consumers;

    When the residual level of this metabolite in animal feed is significant, its impact on the residual properties and degree in animal derived products.

    Due to this change being an update of approval conditions rather than a revocation, the current approval has been extended, therefore no transitional grace period has been set.