Co-formulants in plant protection products - Initial study on the risk assessment of co-formulants in plant protection products

Quantities of co-formulants of plant protection products sold in Switzerland were estimated and chemically similar substances were grouped. Based on these results, individual co-formulants, which could form residues in foodstuffs, can now be prioritised for follow-up investigations.

Plant protection products consist of one or several active substances and a number of co-formulants. Pesticide residues on foodstuffs resulting from uses of plant protection products must not have harmful effects on the health of consumers. However, regulated as ‘pesticide residues’ are active substances, metabolites and/or breakdown or reaction products of active substances, while potential residues of co-formulants are ignored. In order to identify potential risks from residues of co-formulants on foodstuffs, this study aimed to identify the quantitatively most important co-formulants that are applied to agricultural crops and that could potentially lead to residues in foodstuffs. This initial study is designed to form the basis for further studies that will enable the co-formulant exposure of consumers through foodstuffs to be estimated and any resulting risk to human health to be regulated accordingly in future.