3rd International Biocidal Congress held between 22 - 25 November 2016 organized in cooperation with the Public Health Institution of Turkey and the Biocidal Occupational and Environmental Health Association, with the support of Çukurova University and Ege University was successfully completed and we would like to thank to those who contributed to the congress organization.
Many topics were discussed throughout the congress such as national and international legislation on biocidal products, producer problems, plant protection product practices, integrated vector control, licensing, laboratory practices, occupational and environmental health and safety issues, disinfectants, processed goods, biocidal product use in hospitals.
Academicians from different branches (especially public health, environmental engineering, food engineering, biology, chemistry, agricultural engineering, etc.); many ministries, public institutions/organizations, municipal employees, Ministry of Health central and provincial organization personnel, non-governmental organizations and relevant sector representatives have attended to our congress.
Many public institutions and organizations and non-governmental organizations supported our congress institutionally such as Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, Union of Municipalities of Turkey, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Ministry of Interior General Directorate of Local Administrations, Istanbul Chemicals and Products Exporters Union, Union of Marmara Municipalities, Union of Eastern Black Sea Municipalities, Union of Central Anatolia Municipalities, Confederation of European Pest Management Associations, Chemical Watch, Labor and Social Security Training and Research Center, Paint Manufacturers Association, Turkish Chemical Industrialists Association, Istanbul Garment and Apparel Exporters' Association, Cosmetics and Cleaning Products Industrialists' Association, Public Health and Pest Control Association, Turkish Microbiology Society, Chemists Association, Turkish White Goods Manufacturers Association and Occupational Safety Experts Association from our country and in addition, many private sector organizations contributed to our congress organization.
European Chemicals Agency, European Federation of Pest Management Societies, University of Milan, University of Kosin, Arche Consulting, Hockley International, Macedonian Institute of Occupational Health, World Health Organization, Italian Institute of Higher Health and foreign speakers from international companies took part in the organization.
A total of 1059 people participated in our congress, 114 from domestic and 11 from abroad, a total of 125 speakers, 28 academicians, 30 students, 146 municipal employees, 299 health workers, 182 private sector representatives, 249 course participants. 21 sessions, 3 conferences, 2 satellite symposiums, 2 panels were organized during the congress. During the congress, "Responsible Manager Training" was given to 249 people.
In this context, studies on biocidal products was shared with large audiences at our congress with the support of national and international participants.
It was discussed what measures should be taken for the sake of legislation applied in our country on biocidal products, how this legislation can be taken forward, the steps to be taken for the future and the protection of the environment and public health throughout the congress.
As a result of these discussions the following issues were determined with their main lines:
1- “Health” is one of the important goals in the 2030 agenda of sustainable development goals. Since biocidal products are a very important issue in terms of public health, World Health Organization has stated that it will condensate its studies on environmental health and biocidal products. Sustainable use of biocidal products should be ensured and especially pregnant, children and elderly should be protected from possible side effects.
2- Biocidal products should be considered as products with high toxicity, depending on the dose, in terms of public health. Appropriate pesticide, appropriate disinfectant selection and dose use are important for this purpose. Care should be taken to use the products in a way that does not harm human, animal and environmental health.
3- Legislation should be established as soon as possible in new and non-regulated areas such as processed goods, on-site active substances, products with no active substances but are used for biocidal purposes, uncertainties in the industry should be corrected. Biocidal product active substance and its amounts in processed goods and their method of use should be clearly stated on the label. Existing legislation should be harmonized with the Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331.
4- Sustainable pesticide management is necessary for sustainable food production. Joint studies should be performed for identifying residue limits ensuring food safety. Rates of antibiotic use in Turkey and the European Union are approximately the same in veterinary practices. It is necessary to raise awareness about the conscious use of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance. Obligation to follow up and control medical products in the veterinary field and to issue prescription documents and the obligation to comply with the regulations, prevent unnecessary use of antibiotics.
5- Importance of resilience development, which is the 4th issue on the United Nations agenda has been recognized as an important issue by the world. By the regional fixation of the pesticide resistances it has been determined that the prevention of the use of resistant pesticides will be possible with effective monitoring. It is an essential issue creating resistance maps by integrating advanced pesticide management with the ecosystem and pesticide risk assessment is an important consideration.
6- It is possible that local administrations fight by ensuring that the vector control is implemented from a single center and on-site with expert personnel, the use of quality biocidal products, appropriate equipment and appropriate timing. Multidisciplinary studies are needed to raise awareness of school-age children and the public in the vector struggle.
First of all, cultural and physical application, then biological and finally chemical application is required for the vectorial struggle. In addition, it should be kept in mind that larval control is the most important step in chemical control and is closely related to the environment and human health. It is necessary to comply with the criteria and ethical values identified by WHO and the Ministry of Health. Integration with other management units related to the subject should also be ensured. Species other than the target species must be protected. Biocidal product used should only affect the target organism. It is possible to get effective results by fighting against vectors with good practice examples in biocidal products.
It is an important issue for local governments to exchange information by creating a common knowledge and experience pool and sharing training materials.
7- Scientific studies on the effects of climate change on biocidal use should be increased. Climate change affects the course of vector-borne also diseases gains great importance for biocidal product implementation. It is also possible to transport possible viruses not yet encountered in our country but can spread through international travels. It is necessary to take action for this. Physicians in the travel health center by the General Directorate of Borders and Coasts of Turkey should be sufficient information and required inspections should be carried out.
8- Manufacturers and importers of biocidal products are required to inform the consumers effectively and accurately by using all specifications of their products through all media organs.
9- Public Health Institution of Turkey has established the draft legislation on Goods Treated with Biocidal Products and finalized the draft in line with the opinions received. Communiqué on Articles Treated with Biocidal Product, which is planned to be published soon has been prepared in harmony with EU legislation and guide.
10- There are also endocrine disrupting chemicals in biocidal products. The main goal in this subject is to carry out inspection and monitoring studies in the media by identifying its endocrine disrupting chemicals and its metabolites. It is necessary to present treatment suggestions for water and waste water and to identify required standards.
11- Although the benefits of nanotechnology are obvious, it is a fact that it has negative effects on human health. It is presented to consumers’ use in many fields such as automotive, agriculture and textile. There are no sufficient studies in the world about this and required studies should be conducted.
12- Sources of release of biocidal products to the ecosystem, during production, industrial use and personal use, furthermore during water storage and their disposal there can be a discharge to ecosystem. The inspections should be carried out by the relevant units and the possible damages on the environment and public health should be minimized.
13- Selection of suitable biocidal products for use in hospital environments, dosage, method of administration and duration are important parameters in minimizing non-social infections. Rapid product effect, easy to prepare for product selection addressing to the needs are among the criteria in the purchasing process.
14- Scientific studies, especially epidemiological studies, should be carried out in order to monitor the long-term effects of biocidal products and a Scientific Consultancy Council should be established with the leadership of Ministry of Health and with the attendance of relevant institutes and organizations to continuously monitor and assess international organization’s suggestions and reports. 3. INTERNATIONAL BIOCIDAL CONGRESS ORGANIZATION COUNCIL