Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance tolclofos-methyl.

The conclusions of the EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State, Sweden, and co-rapporteur Member State, Denmark, for the pesticide active substance tolclofos-methyl are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of tolclofos-methyl as a fungicide on potatoes, lettuce and ornamentals.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance indoxacarb.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State, France, and co-rapporteur Member State, Spain, for the pesticide active substance indoxacarb are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of indoxacarb as an insecticide on maize, sweet corn and lettuce.

Peer review of the targeted hazard assessment of the pesticide active substance quinoxyfen.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State, the United Kingdom, and co-rapporteur Member State, Austria, for the pesticide active substance quinoxyfen are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of information targeted at the assessment of the potential persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT), very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) and persistent organic pollutant (POP) properties of quinoxyfen according to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009.

Review of the existing maximum residue levels for fenoxycarb according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

According to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, EFSA has reviewed the maximum residue levels (MRLs) currently established at European level for the pesticide active substance fenoxycarb. To assess the occurrence of fenoxycarb residues in plants, processed commodities, rotational crops and livestock, EFSA considered the conclusions derived in the framework of Directive 91/414/EEC as well as the European authorisations reported by Member States (including the supporting residues data). Based on the assessment of the available data, MRL proposals were derived and a consumer risk assessment was carried out.

Modification of the existing maximum residue levels for trifloxystrobin in various crops.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Bayer CropScience submitted a request to the competent national authority in the Netherlands to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRL) for the active substance trifloxystrobin in small fruits and berries (whole group), lettuce and salad plants (whole group), purslanes, beans (without pods) and peas (with and without pods) and pulses. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive MRL proposals for all crops under consideration. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of trifloxystrobin on the commodities under consideration at the validated limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.

Review of the existing maximum residue levels for bispyribac according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

According to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, EFSA has reviewed the maximum residue levels (MRLs) currently established at European level for the pesticide active substance bispyribac. To assess the occurrence of bispyribac residues in plants, processed commodities, rotational crops and livestock, EFSA considered the conclusions derived in the framework of Directive 91/414/EEC as well as the European authorisations reported by Member States (including the supporting residues data). Based on the assessment of the available data, MRL proposals were derived and a consumer risk assessment was carried out.

Setting of a maximum residue level for cyantraniliprole in leeks.

In accordance with Article 53 of Regulation (EC) 1107/2009, the United Kingdom granted a 120-day emergency authorisation for the use of cyantraniliprole in leek. In order to accommodate for the new use, the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board submitted an application to raise the existing maximum residue level (MRL) for the crop concerned. The United Kingdom, as evaluating Member State, summarised the data provided by the applicant in an evaluation report which was submitted to the European Commission and forwarded to EFSA.

Modification of the existing maximum residue levels for mandestrobin in apricots, cherries, peaches/nectarines and plums.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Sumitomo Chemical Agro Europe S.A.S.

Modification of the existing maximum residue levels for fenhexamid in various crops.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Bayer CropScience SAS submitted a request to the competent national authority in Italy to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRL) for the active substance fenhexamid in plums, blueberries, cranberries, currants, gooseberries and beans with pods. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive MRL proposals for all crops under consideration. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of fenhexamid in plant matrices.

Modification of the existing maximum residue level for deltamethrin in kale.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) submitted a request to the competent authority in the United Kingdom (evaluating Member State (EMS)) to modify the existing maximum residue level (MRL) for the active substance deltamethrin in kale. To accommodate for the intended use of deltamethrin, it was considered necessary to raise the existing MRL. Based on the evaluation report prepared by the EMS in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, EFSA concludes that the applicant provided sufficient data to derive an MRL proposal of 0.

Review of the existing maximum residue levels for flurochloridone according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

According to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, EFSA has reviewed the maximum residue levels (MRLs) currently established at European level for the pesticide active substance flurochloridone. To assess the occurrence of flurochloridone residues in plants, processed commodities, rotational crops and livestock, EFSA considered the conclusions derived in the framework of Commission Regulation (EC) No 33/2008 as well as the European authorisations reported by Member States (including the supporting residues data). Based on the assessment of the available data, MRL proposals were derived and a consumer risk assessment was carried out.

Modification of the existing maximum residue levels for difenoconazole in various crops.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant BASF SE submitted a request to the competent national authority in the United Kingdom to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substance difenoconazole in various crops. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive MRL proposals for all crops under consideration. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of difenoconazole in plant matrices under consideration.

Setting of import tolerances for flubendiamide in apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums and soya beans.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Bayer CropScience AG submitted a request to the competent national authority in Greece to set import tolerances for the active substance flubendiamide in apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums and soya beans. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive maximum residue level (MRL) proposals for apricots, peaches/nectarines, plums. For soya beans, further risk management considerations are required to decide the import tolerance to be set.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance thiophanate-methyl.

The conclusions of the EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State, Sweden, and co-rapporteur Member State, Finland, for the pesticide active substance thiophanate-methyl are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of thiophanate-methyl as a fungicide on wine grapes, tomato, aubergine, leek, fresh beans with pods and wheat (winter and durum).

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance copper compounds copper(I), copper(II) variants namely copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride, tribasic copper sulfate, copper(I) oxide, Bordeaux mixture.

The conclusions of the EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State, France, and co-rapporteur Member State, Germany, for the pesticide active substance copper compounds are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of copper compounds as a fungicide on grapes, tomatoes and cucurbits.

Modification of the existing maximum residue level for fluopicolide in chards.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the competent national authority in Belgium sent an application to modify the existing maximum residue level (MRL) for the active substance fluopicolide in chards. In order to accommodate for the intended use of fluopicolide, the evaluating Member State (EMS) proposed to raise the existing MRLs from 4 mg/kg to 6 mg/kg. Belgium drafted the evaluation report in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, which was submitted to the European Commission and forwarded to EFSA.

Use of EFSA Pesticide Residue Intake Model (EFSA PRIMo revision 3).

Since 2007, the EFSA PRIMo (Pesticide Residue Intake Model), an Excel-based calculation spreadsheet, is the standard tool used at EU level to perform the dietary risk assessment for pesticide residues in the framework of setting and reviewing of maximum residue levels for pesticides under Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 and in the peer review of pesticides under Regulation (EU) No 1107/2009. The model was now updated with regard to food consumption data derived from some recent dietary food surveys. In addition, new functionalities were included in the calculation spread sheet to make the tool more user-friendly and to allow automatic integration of the EFSA PRIMo in the workflows where dietary risk assessments are performed.

Modification of the existing maximum residue level for metazachlor in Chinese cabbage.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the evaluating Member State (EMS), France, received an application from BASF SE to modify the existing maximum residue level (MRL) for the active substance metazachlor in Chinese cabbage. To accommodate for the intended use of metazachlor, France proposed to raise the existing MRL from the value of 0.2 mg/kg to 0.

Parkinson disease-induced upregulation of apoptotic mediators could be attenuated in the skeletal muscle following chronic exercise training.

Background: We have shown elevated levels of p53 and active caspase-3 in gastrocnemius skeletal muscle with Parkinson's disease (PD). The main aim of this study is to examine the impact of endurance exercise training on the expression of p53 and active caspase-3 in the skeletal muscle of mouse with induced Parkinsonism.

Methods: Sedentary control (SC), sedentary Parkinson diseased (SPD), and exercised Parkinson diseased (EPD) groups were formed; each consisting of 10 randomly selected normal albino mice.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance strain AQ10.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State, France, and the co-rapporteur Member State, Germany, for the pesticide active substance   strain AQ10 are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of   strain AQ10 as a fungicide by spraying against powdery mildew in grapes and spray applications in tomato, pepper and aubergine grown under protection or in the open field.

SDF-1 induces TNF-mediated apoptosis in cardiac myocytes.

Chemokines are small secreted proteins with chemoattractant properties that play a key role in inflammation. One such chemokine, Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) also known as CXCL12, and its receptor, CXCR4, are expressed and functional in cardiac myocytes. SDF-1 both stimulates and enhances the cellular signal which attracts potentially beneficial stem cells for tissue repair within the ischemic heart.

Review of the existing maximum residue levels for fenbutatin oxide according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

According to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, EFSA has reviewed the maximum residue levels (MRLs) currently established at European level for the pesticide active substance fenbutatin oxide. Although this active substance is no longer authorised within the EU due to the lack of toxicological data on di-hydroxy fenbutatin oxide, a compound observed in the metabolism studies but also present as an impurity in the technical active substance, MRLs established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CXLs) are still in place. Lacking a full toxicological characterisation of this compound, it was not possible for EFSA to perform an assessment of these CXLs and their incorporation in European legislation cannot be recommended.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance NRRL Y-27328.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authority of the rapporteur Member State, France, for the pesticide active substance NRRL Y-27328 and the assessment of the application for inclusion in Annex IV of Regulation (EU) No 396/2005 are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of NRRL Y-27328 as a fungicide on stone fruits, strawberries and grapes.

Review of the existing maximum residue levels for quizalofop-P-ethyl, quizalofop-P-tefuryl and propaquizafop according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

According to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, EFSA has reviewed the maximum residue levels (MRLs) currently established at European level for the pesticide active substance quizalofop-P-ethyl, quizalofop-P-tefuryl and propaquizafop. To assess the occurrence of quizalofop-P-ethyl, quizalofop-P-tefuryl and propaquizafop residues in plants, processed commodities, rotational crops and livestock, EFSA considered the conclusions derived in the framework of Directive 91/414/EEC as well as the European authorisations reported by Member States (including the supporting residues data). Based on the assessment of the available data, MRL proposals were derived and a consumer risk assessment was carried out.

Modification of the existing maximum residue level for cymoxanil in beans without pods.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the competent national authority in Belgium, Federal Public Service of Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, submitted a request to modify the existing maximum residue level (MRL) for the active substance cymoxanil in beans without pods. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive a MRL proposal for beans without pods. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of cymoxanil in beans without pods at the validated limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.