Plant Protection: EPPO zones

Next to the regulatory zones for product authorisation of plant protection products as defined in Regulation 1107/2009 (picture left), Europe is divided in climatic zones according to EPPO standard PP1/241 (picture right) for the efficacy testing and evaluation. In order to avoid unnecessary studies and tap the full potential of extrapolation and bridging possibilities, detailed consideration of these climatic zones is vital for an efficacy trial program.

However, EPPO climatic zones are only a part of the complete efficacy trial planning. National and local growing conditions, crop varieties, cultivation methods, etc. have to be included. Therefore, not only the respective EPPO standards, but, if applicable, also national guidelines such as e.g. the French CEB (Commission des Essais Biologiques (Association Française de Protection des Plantes) guidelines need to be taken into account.

The zonal approach for plant protection authorisation as well as the EPPO climatic zones do not apply for greenhouse, indoor or seed treatment uses. In these cases, an interzonal approach applies. Different national or regional cultivation conditions, such as the definition of ‘greenhouse’, have to be observed for interzonal uses, however, extensive bridging and extrapolation possibilities are available most cases.