(1)

By Commission Directive 2011/21/EU (2) clethodim was included as active substance in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC for uses as herbicide on sugar beet. Since the replacement of Directive 91/414/EEC by Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, this substance is deemed to have been approved under that Regulation and is listed in Part A of the Annex to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 of 25 May 2011 implementing Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the list of approved active substances (3).

(2)

On 14 February 2011 Arysta LifeScience, at whose request clethodim was included in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC, submitted an application for an amendment to the conditions of inclusion of clethodim to allow its use as a herbicide on crops other than sugar beet. That application was accompanied by additional information. It was submitted to the Netherlands, which had been designated rapporteur Member State by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1490/2002 (4).

(3)

The Netherlands evaluated the additional information submitted by the applicant and prepared an addendum to the draft assessment report. It submitted that addendum to the Commission on 28 March 2011. The Netherlands communicated the addendum to the other Member States and to the European Food Safety Authority (hereinafter ‘the Authority’) for comments and forwarded the comments received to the Commission.

(4)

The Authority organised a consultation of experts on the addendum to the draft assessment report. On 15 October 2011 the Authority communicated its conclusion to the applicant, the Member States and the Commission and made it available to the public. Taking into account the comments received from the applicant, the Authority modified its conclusion. It submitted its modified conclusion to the applicant, the Member States and the Commission and made it available to the public on 18 November 2011 (5).

(5)

In accordance with Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 the Commission invited the applicant to submit its comments on the review report for clethodim. The notifier submitted its comments, which have been carefully examined.

(6)

The addendum to the draft assessment report and the conclusion of the Authority were reviewed by the Member States and the Commission within the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and were finalised on 9 December 2011 in the format of the Commission review report for clethodim.

(7)

It has appeared from the various examinations carried out that the restriction to sugar beets of the use of plant protection products consisting of or containing clethodim may be lifted.

(8)

The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(9)

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