IUPAC

(1) Review Procedures used worldwide for risk assessment for pesticide uses in small-acreage crops.

(2) Develop recommendations for international harmonization, exchange of data and predictive capability.

Problem Statement
Commercial pest control chemicals are increasingly being produced by fewer and larger companies with little interest in the small profits or the added liability associated with the use of pesticides on small-acreage crops. This is not a "developed vs. developing country" issue. Every country in the world has small farms raising specialty crops which are grown on too small an acreage to warrant pursuit of registration of crop protection chemicals by the manufacturers. But plant diseases, weeds and insects can be just as devastating in these "minor crops" as in major crops. Furthermore, the economic value of these crops is often comparable to that of major crops and often critical to a region.

The situation has been exacerbated in re-registration programs where, for example, old registrations for "grain crops" and "tree fruits" have become more specific such as "wheat" and "apples". Previously included crops have become excluded in this process.

Individual countries have developed responses of varying effectiveness to this problem .We believe IUPAC is in a position to bring these countries together to share experiences and data, and to suggest harmonized registration approaches and modelling procedures which will facilitate and expedite registrations of crop protection chemicals for minor crops, contributing to their economic survival.

The minor use issue impinges also on international trade. The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues has been seeking consensus on minimum data requirements for setting MRLs related to minor uses.

Methodology

1. Compare minor-use procedures between countries.
2. Propose harmonization and data-sharing approaches.
3. Examine minimum data requirements for minor uses.
4. Examine extrapolation possibilities: from major to minor crops, from major crops to crop groups.
5. "Mine" available crop residue data for development of a food crop pesticide residues predictive model.

Working Style
Following development of a preliminary workplan and task assignment by the Task Group, data will be compiled by individual group members. The majority of project work communication will occur via e-mail and phone conferences, at least two face-to-face consultations will be required for project completion.

<project announcement published in Chem. Int. 24(4), 2002>