Environmental Risk Assessment of the Pesticide Simplex with the Active Substances Aminopyralid and Fluroxypyr

Abstract

Simplex is a new herbicide in Norway containing the active substances aminopyralid and fluroxypyr. Aminopyralid is a new active substance in Norway, but fluroxypyr is registered in several authorized products. The intended use of the plant protection product is in established grassland for forage, established ley and pasture and in grass at the first year of sowing.   During the spring of 2010, the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) performed a human health risk assessment of the active substance aminopyralid and the product on request from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. On further request from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, VKM has performed a risk assessment on the fate and the behaviour in the environment and the environmental risk with regard to the properties of the active substance aminopyralid and the product Simplex, which was finalized at a meeting of VKM’s Scientific Panel on plant protection products (Panel 2) on November 25, 2010. VKM Panel 2’s conclusion is as follows: Aminopyralid is highly mobile in soil and the substance is very likely to reach ground water at concentrations above the threshold of 0.1 µg/L. Experimental data (watersediment studies) suggest that aminopyralid is persistent. However, aminopyralid concentrations in surface water are expected to decrease rapidly due to photolytic degradation. The overall risk for adverse effects on terrestrial and aquatic organisms following the proposed application of Simplex is considered to be minimal.