(1)

In accordance with Article 6(2) of Directive 91/414/EEC Germany received on 27 June 2000 an application from a Task Force consisting of UBE Europe GmbH and Stähler Agrochemie GmbH & Co. KG (UBE Europe GmbH having later left the Task Force) for the inclusion of the active substance beflubutamid in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC. Commission Decision 2000/784/EC (2) confirmed that the dossier was ‘complete’ in the sense that it could be considered as satisfying, in principle, the data and information requirements of Annexes II and III to Directive 91/414/EEC.

(2)

In accordance with Article 6(2) of Directive 91/414/EEC the Netherlands received on 12 July 1996 an application from Biosys (now: Certis USA) for the inclusion of the active substance Spodoptera exigua nuclear polyhedrosis virus (hereinafter Spodoptera exigua NPV) in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC. Commission Decision 97/865/EC (3) confirmed that the dossier was ‘complete’ in the sense that it could be considered as satisfying, in principle, the data and information requirements of Annexes II and III to Directive 91/414/EEC.

(3)

For those active substances, the effects on human health and the environment have been assessed, in accordance with the provisions of Article 6(2) and (4) of Directive 91/414/EEC, for the uses proposed by the applicants. The designated rapporteur Member States submitted draft assessment reports concerning the substances to the Commission on 13 August 2002 (beflubutamid) and 1 November 1999 (Spodoptera exigua NPV) respectively.

(4)

For those substances the draft assessment reports have been reviewed by the Member States and the Commission within the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. The review was finalised on 15 May 2007 in the format of the Commission review reports for beflubutamid and Spodoptera exigua NPV.

(5)

It has appeared from the various examinations made that plant protection products containing the active substances concerned may be expected to satisfy, in general, the requirements laid down in Article 5(1)(a) and (b) and Article 5(3) of Directive 91/414/EEC, in particular with regard to the uses which were examined and detailed in the Commission review report. It is therefore appropriate to include beflubutamid and Spodoptera exigua NPV in Annex I to that Directive, in order to ensure that in all Member States the authorisations of plant protection products containing these active substances may be granted in accordance with the provisions of that Directive.

(6)

Without prejudice to the obligations defined by Directive 91/414/EEC as a consequence of including an active substance in Annex I, Member States should be allowed a period of six months after inclusion to review existing provisional authorisations of plant protection products containing beflubutamid or Spodoptera exigua NPV to ensure that the requirements laid down by Directive 91/414/EEC, in particular in its Article 13 and the relevant conditions set out in Annex I, are satisfied. Member States should transform existing provisional authorisations into full authorisations, amend them or withdraw them in accordance with the provisions of Directive 91/414/EEC. By derogation from the above deadline, a longer period should be provided for the submission and assessment of the complete Annex III dossier of each plant protection product for each intended use in accordance with the uniform principles laid down in Directive 91/414/EEC.

(7)

It is therefore appropriate to amend Directive 91/414/EEC accordingly.

(8)

The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,