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Quantification and Identification of Active Microorganisms in Microbial Plant Protection Products

1 Microbial plant protection products marketed in Denmark

• 1.1 Regulation
• 1.2 Background
• 1.3 Objectives
• 1.4 General methodology

1.1 Regulation

In Denmark the marketing of pesticides is regulated by Statutory order no. 533 of 18 June 2003 which is based on EU Directive 91/414/EEC. Microbial plant protection products (MPPP) are defined as products with a micro-organism (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, vira, and viroids) as the active ingredient. In the EU MPPP are evaluated and authorized by the national regulatory authorities prior to marketing. The products marketed in Denmark in January 2004 are listed in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1: Microbial plant protection products on the market in Denmark in January 2004, the active micro-organisms and the producer.

1.2 Background

Earlier investigations at the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences (Løschenkohl et al. 2003) on seven MPPP have shown the number of the active micro-organism to deviate from the abundance indicated by the producer. This included up to 24 times higher as well as 2.6 times lower numbers of the active micro-organism. The purity of the products was high and the active micro-organisms were reported as identical to the producers' information. However, higher as well as lower abundance of the active micro-organisms will affect any human and animal risks associated with and the efficacy of the products, respectively.

A query among the regulatory authorities in nine EU member states (Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden, and United Kingdom) regarding their experiences, if any, on control of quantity of active micro-organisms in MPPP on the market was performed. This gave no indication of previous investigations of this matter (Fjelsted 2004). The general opinion on the tolerance level of the abundance of active micro-organisms was that it would be acceptable with a deviation of approximately 5 times higher or lower than the abundance indicated by the producer. At present no routine control of marketed MPPP is taking place in Denmark or apparently in other EU member states. The results of this project will be the first control of identity, purity and quantity of the MPPP on the Danish market. Hence, the project will give an indication of the relevance of future routine inspections to control the quantity and purity of the active micro-organisms in MPPP.

1.3 Objectives

The general objectives of the project were to control and evaluate the active micro-organisms in the MPPP on the Danish market. Specific objectives were to

• verify the identity of the active micro-organisms
• quantify the active micro-organisms
• detect any microbial contamination
• compare to information provided by the producers.

1.4 General methodology

The objectives were fulfilled by quantification of the culturable number of active micro-organisms in 1-3 batches of each MPPP. The active micro-organisms were identified and detectable contaminating micro-organisms on the culturing media were noticed and quantified. The results were compared to the information provided by the producers either on the labels, in available information on the products, or in the data package sent with the applications for authorization to the Danish regulating authority.

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Version 1.0 February 2005, © Danish Environmental Protection Agency