Plant protection products and adjuvants

To be placed and used on the Belgian market, plant protection products (PPPs) and adjuvants must have an authorisation.

What are plant protection products (PPPs) and adjuvants?

PPPs (also referred to as 'pesticides') are products in the form in which they are supplied to the user, consisting of or containing active substances, safeners or synergists, and intended for one of the following uses:

(a) protecting plants or plant products against all harmful organisms or preventing the action of such organisms, unless the main purpose of these products is considered to be for reasons of hygiene rather than for the protection of plants or plant products (e.g. fungicides, insecticides);

(b) influencing the life processes of plants, such as substances influencing their growth, other than as a nutrient (e.g. plant growth regulators, rooting hormones);

(c) preserving plant products, in so far as such substances or products are not subject to special Community provisions on preservatives (e.g. extending the life of cut flowers);

(d) destroying undesired plants or parts of plants, except algae unless the products are applied on soil or water to protect plants (e.g. herbicides/weed killers to kill actively growing weeds);

(e) checking or preventing undesired growth of plants, except algae unless the products are applied on soil or water to protect plants (e.g. herbicides/weed killers preventing the growth of weeds).

Adjuvants are products in the form in which they are supplied to the user and placed on the market, to be mixed by the user with a plant protection product and which enhance its effectiveness or other pesticidal properties.

Authorisation of PPPs and adjuvants

To be placed and used on the Belgian market, plant protection products (PPPs) and adjuvants must have an authorisation issued by the Federal Public Service Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment.