Evaluation of data concerning the necessity of pymetrozine as an insecticide to control a serious danger to plant health which cannot be contained by other available means, including non‐chemical methods

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was requested by the European Commission to provide scientific assistance under Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 regarding the evaluation of data concerning the necessity of pymetrozine as an insecticide to control a serious danger to plant health, which cannot be contained by other available means including non‐chemical methods, in accordance with Article 4(7) of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. In this context, EFSA organised a commenting phase with Member States in order to collect and validate the data submitted by the applicant. The current scientific report summarises the outcome of the evaluation of more than 100 crop (group)/pest combinations in 10 Member States. The evaluation demonstrated that not a wide range of alternative insecticide active substances to pymetrozine are available to chemically control pollen beetle, whitefly and aphids in various crops (open field and protected use); however for several crop(group)/pest combinations, sufficient chemical alternatives are available. The evaluation included an assessment of non‐chemical alternatives for the presented uses. A wide range of non‐chemical methods are available, often these methods do not have the same efficacy as chemical methods or have economic limitations. However, for some crop/pest combinations, particularly under protected use non‐chemical methods are highly effective and considered feasible.