Evaluation of data concerning the necessity of isoxaflutole as a herbicide 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 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 isoxaflutole as a herbicide 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 three different uses (maize, sweetcorn and poppy) in 10 Member States. The evaluation demonstrated that for two uses (maize and sweetcorn) insufficient or sufficient chemical alternatives are available, and for one use (poppy) insufficient chemical alternatives to isoxaflutole are available. The evaluation included an assessment of non‐chemical methods for the presented uses. A wide range of non‐chemical methods are available, however, often these methods do not have the same efficacy as chemical methods or have economic limitations. A combination of both chemical and non‐chemical methods seems often possible.