5th International Biocidal Congress, which was held between 5-7 March 2021 with the cooperation of the Biocidal Occupational and Environmental Health Association, Çukurova University and Ege University, was successfully completed we would like to thank to those who contributed to the congress organization.
Main topics such as European Commission and the European Confederation of Pest Management Associations’ role (CEPA), the role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Global Registration of Biocidal Products, current use of biocidal products and non-active biocidal products in the European Union market: Opportunities and challenges, sustainability and risk assessment in biocidal products, maximum residue limits in biocidal products, today and future of the biocidal industry, effects of biocidal legislation and solutions for vendors, use of the biocidal product in daily life, developments in the European Union on endocrine disruptors and intermediates in BPR was discussed in the congress. Furthermore, new applications were mentioned in the congress since product TYPE 1 and TYPE 19 Biocidal Products related licensing procedures were transferred to the cosmetics department with the Presidential decree on 13.09.2019.
Participants had the chance to get answers to their current problems and questions directly from experts and they get the chance to acquaint from innovations in terms of Biocidal in International arena.
Many institutions and organizations playing a major role in the international arena such as ECHA, OECD and CEPA support our congress.
13 sessions, 7 keynotes, 1 conference, 4 panels has been realized in the congress scope, 22 verbal notices presented and 11 posters were exhibited in the congress. A total of 72 speakers and session chairpersons, 8 from abroad and 64 from Turkey took part in our congress. Total 210 people attended our congress.
During the congress, the issue of biocidal products was scrutinized from various perspectives and the parties had the chance to share their knowledge, experiences and opinions.
As a result of the discussions held within the scope of the congress, the following decisions were taken with the main lines and results were outlined:
1. It is important to establish a sustainable biocide standard for biocidal products according to World Health Organization. A global pest management system has been established in Europe for the purpose of investigating public health risks, public information, to create awareness and to ensure control an active manner. In this context, the importance of standardizing and making legal arrangements for effective pest control in our country has been emphasized.
2. The cooperation between Turkey and international organizations such as International Agricultural Organization, International Labor Organization, European Chemicals Agency, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development must be strengthened; Turkish experts should provide more support to the efforts of these organizations.
3. Many developments emerged relevant disinfectants during Covid-19 Pandemic, the need to update and improve the knowledge of professionally trained pestilent managers has emerged. In this context, training activities should be organized by the relevant institutions.
4. Due to the extraordinary situation caused by COVID-19 in our country, it has been deemed appropriate to initiate the Emergency Licensing procedures in Article 15 of the Biocidal Products Regulation. Since biocidal products directly contacting the human body (Product Type-1 and ProductType-19) was transferred to the authorization and responsibility of Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency with Article 3 of the Presidential Decree published in the Official Gazette dated 13.09.2019 and numbered 30887 works and procedures for the licensing of the product groups in question has passed into the area of duty and responsibility of the Department of Cosmetic Products. Biocidal companies should continue with their work in full compliance with current legislation.
5. Use of personal protective equipment and lack of personal hygiene of agricultural workers revealed insufficient information about the possible health effects of pesticides, lack of knowledge and education about safe practice in pesticide use, prevalence of banned pesticide use due to lack of control, in addition to individuals occupationally exposed to pesticides, all segments of society, especially those living in agricultural areas, are exposed to pesticides at a certain rate with environmental impact.
6. Controlling the use of chemicals, which has increased with the effect of industrialization became compulsory for the protection of the environment and human health. On this issue just like in the globe, studies in cooperation with the relevant institutes and industrialists should be carried out by tracking both regional and global activities in our country.
7. Controlled use of biocidal products is important for public and environmental health against possible insecticide resistances by performing efficiency tests of Biocidal products on pestilent organisms. Right product must be applied at the right time, in the right dose, with the right application in order to allow biocidal products to be effective against type of insecticide. Otherwise, insecticide types may develop resistance against these products.
8. Use of rodenticides for rodent control can also cause poisoning in non-target organisms. Primary poisonings occur in humans (especially children), domestic and wild mammals and birds by direct ingestion of rodenticides. Secondary poisoning is common in birds, wild and domestic mammals eating poisoned rodents. The main problems arising from the use of rodenticide are; poisonings in non-target organisms, rodenticide resistance in rodents, adverse effects on wildlife and problems in application.
9. During the Covid-19 Pandemic, the disinfection activities carried out by the municipalities are considered significant. In addition, active substance content should be regularly shared with the public in a transparent manner. Public-based studies should be performed with these information to be obtained.
10. Pesticides Control industry; as per the Workplace Hazard Classes Communiqué on Occupational Health and Safety; it is evaluated in the scope of “Very Hazardous” with NACE code 0161. Employees dealing with biocidal products should act in accordance with the necessary training and instructions, knowing the possible risks in the transportation of the chemicals with storage before the application, during and after the application; became more of an issue for preventing possible risks for employees’ health.
11. When an indication of how important the Accreditation and Qualification issues are in the work of laboratories and perquisite it can be claimed as the best evidence. Results obtained in our laboratories being acceptable at national and international level makes performance of all these studies compulsory to be conducted with a tough discipline.
12. Throughout the Covid -19 Pandemic, UV-C has been used extensively as surface disinfection. Due to the harmful effects of UV-C on skin and eye health, they should be used with utmost attention by considering side-effect profiles for health professionals.
13. Increasing the use of less harmful alternative pest control methods in the developing world supporting R&D studies of these products is of great importance for supporting environment health activities.
14. Developing systems for regular monitoring of pesticide residues and studies for increasing awareness in the institutions working on these fields should be strengthened.
15. It has been observed that the interest and sensitivity to the issue in all participating institutions and municipalities is at a very high level. Especially necessity of scientific congresses ensuring easy access to information at first hand for developing municipality and academician cooperation was also seen.
5. INTERNATIONAL BIOCIDAL CONGRESS ORGANIZATION COUNCIL