Authorisation of biological control agents - theory and practice

Abstract: The legislation of the European Union regarding the placement of plant protectionproducts on the market (Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009) and also the Directive 2009/128/EC onthe sustainable use of pesticides pave the ground for increasing use of biological control agents inEurope. Both clearly give priority to the use of alternative, non-chemical control measures.However, the general practice in member states is different. Whereas member states largely seemto ignore the potential of biological control, chemical control companies have increasing interestin biological control and have acquired several biocontrol companies in order to get access tobiocontrol biodiversity and know-how.