Derogation for an emergency situation
The Swedish Chemicals Agency may decide on derogation from the requirement for a product authorisation of a plant protection product if there is an emergency situation. A derogation for an emergency situation can only be granted for the limited and controlled use for a maximum of 120 days.
To grant a derogation is an exceptional measure that can only be used in special cases when certain prerequisites are fulfilled. One prerequisite for granting a derogation is that the product is needed because of a danger. As an applicant you must show that there is a danger and that the danger cannot be averted by any other reasonable means than by using a specific plant protection product. If the product is to be used on edible crops or fodder crops you must also provide data on residue levels.
When examining an application for a derogation the Swedish Chemicals Agency shall consider the following:
- The application must concern a specific case.
- There must be a danger.
- Granting a derogation must be necessary to avert the danger.
- There is no other reasonable way of averting the danger than by granting a derogation.
Guidance on applying for a derogation in an emergency situation (in Swedish, PDF 217 kB) , 216.6 kB.
Normally a derogation for an emergency situation can only be granted once for the same purpose and product, or in special cases only a few times. A derogation for an emergency situation is a temporary solution to an acute problem. The possibility for the Swedish Chemicals Agency to grant more than one derogation is limited and should be avoided as far as possible. Repeated derogations tend to undermine the purpose of the legal requirement of authorisation for plant protection products.
There are other long-term solutions to frequently recurring problems. For example suppliers as well as other actors may apply for a mutual recognition or an extension of authorisation for minor uses (UPMA).
You can read more about mutual recognition here
You can read more about UPMA here
Not only the applicant but also others are allowed to use the product in similar situations to the one covered by the granted derogation.
A derogation can be granted for a plant protection product that does not have a product authorisation as well as for a crop or an area of use that is not included in the existing product authorisation.