2rd National Biocidal Congress held between 9 - 13 November 2015 organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Health Public Health Institution of Turkey Department of Environmental Health with international attendance and with the support of Çukurova University and Ege University was successfully completed. Hereby we would like to thank to those who contributed to the congress organization.
Many topics discussed throughout the congress such as national and international legislation on biocidal products, manufacturers’ problems, plant protection product applications, integrated vector control, licensing, laboratory practices, occupational health and safety issues, disinfectants, processed goods, use of biocidal products 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 institutes and organization from our country such as Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Economy, Union of Municipalities of Turkey, Union of Mayors, Association of Paint Industrialists, Turkish Chemical Industrialists Association, Turkish Microbiology Society, Istanbul Chemicals and Products Exporters' Association, İstanbul Garments and Apparel Exporters Association, Chemists Association, Public Health and Pest Control Association and non-governmental organizations institutionally supported our congress, and many private sector organizations contributed to our congress organization.
European Chemicals Agency, European Commission General Directorate of Health and Food Safety, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Italian Institute of Higher Health and foreign speakers from international companies took part in the organization.
A total of 1587 people participated in our congress, 125 from domestic and 11 from abroad, 136 speakers, 165 academicians, 73 students, 133 municipal employees, 285 health workers, 28 hospital representatives, 407 private sector representatives, 360 course participants. 21 sessions, 3 conferences, 2 satellite symposiums, 2 panels were organized during the congress.
During the congress, "Responsible Manager Training in Biocidal Product Applications" was given to 320 people, "File Preparation and Labeling Course" to 23 people, and "Biocidal Product Market Surveillance and Inspection Training" was given to 285 people. In this scope, we had the opportunity to both learn about other countries' experiences and discuss our country's practices with the support of national and international participants in order to share the studies on biocidal products with a wider audience and to put them on a scientific basis.
We have discussed the legislation applied in our country on biocidal products, how this legislation can be taken forward, the steps to be taken for the future and what measures should be taken in order to protect the environment and public health during the congress.
As a result of these discussions, the following points were decided in general terms:
1. The steps taken by the Public Health Institution of Turkey to harmonize the Biocidal Products Regulation are important in terms of environment and public health. However, possible negative effects of harmonization for Turkish industrialists should be well assessed and it should be worked to correct them.
2. Cooperation between Turkey and international organizations such as the European Chemicals Agency and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development should be strengthened, Turkish experts should subsidize these organizations.
3. Problems related to biocidal product production areas should be resolved and biocidal product production quality should be increased with the legislation to be established and the studies carried out by the Turkish Public Health Institution for the sale of higher quality and safer biocidal products in the Turkish market should be supported.
4. More emphasis should be placed on the studies carried out by the relevant Ministry on plant protection products applications and markets.
5. Scientific studies are needed to reveal the relationship between climate change and biocidal use.
6. It should be supported with a document to guide the efforts of municipalities in the integrated vector struggle and be prepared based on scientific data.
7. Awareness of not only manufacturers but also end users about biocidal product labels and their use should be increased.
8. Standards on disinfectant use should be identified for disinfectants use in multi dwelling areas.
9. An interdisciplinary study is needed to identify the maximum residue limits in ensuring food safety.
10. Inter-institutional cooperation for occupational health and safety in biocidal product production sites and applicators should be strengthened and awareness and education levels of employees should be increased.
11. Biocidal product laboratories’ accreditation studies should be accelerated.
12. Agricultural workers and health personnel should be informed about the possible effects of biocidal and plant protection products on health and their safe use.
13. The difficulties faced by public institutions, such as municipalities and hospitals purchasing large amounts of biocidal products and issues to be considered should be resolved by relevant institutions.
14. National legislation on processed goods should be published as soon as possible and Turkish industrialists should be led up in international markets. 15. Resistance development to biocidal products is increasingly important for our country. Scientific studies on the development of resistance should be carried out throughout the country and national legislation should be reshaped accordingly.
16. Biocidal product applications throughout the country should be followed electronically and based on geographic information system should enable a central planning.
17. Less risky alternative biocidal products should be supported against public health and environmental problems due to increased use of chemicals.
We ‘re proud to see the congress, which was held with the most comprehensive participation in the field of biocidal in our country has attained its purpose mainly in public and private sector for the sake of production, marketing and implementation for biocidal products.
As the congress organizing council we thank everyone contributed to the 2nd National Biocidal Congress with International Participation, especially the Public Health Institution of Turkey, Çukurova University, Ege University, members of the Scientific Committee, all public and private institutions and organizations and all congress participants.
Hope to meet you in Antalya on 23 – 27 November 2016 at the 3rd National Biocidal Congress with International Participation. 2nd NATIONAL BIOCIDAL CONGRESS WITH INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION ORGANIZATION COUNCIL