Number: 2001-022-1-600
Title: Global availability of information
on agrochemicals
Task Group
Chairman: J. Unsworth
Members: K.
Bodnaruk, E.
Carazo, A.S. Felsot,
I. Ferris, C.A.
Harris, P. Holland,
H.-D. Jungblut,
A. Katayama, Y.-H.
Kim, G. Kleter,
J. Linders, J.
Outram, R. Parker,
K.D. Racke, B.
Rubin, G.R.
Stephenson, K. Tanaka,
and D. Wauchope
Objective:
To increase the global availability of information on the chemistry
of agrochemicals, including methods for testing and evaluation,
summaries of properties for individual pesticides, and regulatory
standards for pesticides. Information will be communicated via the
world wide web.
Description:
Problem Statement
A tremendous amount of information related to the chemistry of agrochemicals
has been generated and resides not only in the open literature but
also in various government and industry files. This includes reports
and recommended approaches developed by IUPAC projects on agrochemicals
during the past 20 years. Also included are unpublished reports
and technical summaries of information from various advisory bodies,
regulatory agencies and individual agrochemical companies.
However, there is a lack of co-ordination to make this information
widely available to interested regulators and research scientists
on a world-wide basis. As a result, decisions at a local level may
be made or new research programs initiated without taking into account
available information. Thus the FAO/IAEA has initiated a project
entitled INFOCRIS (International Food Contaminant and Residue Information
System) to make agrochemical information more widely available to
scientists in developing countries via the world-wide web as well
as on a CD-ROM. However, it currently lacks the capability to populate
the data matrix that has been created regarding information on agrochemical
properties. Other organisations (e.g. Oregon State University, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Pesticide Action Network - PAN)
are independently developing information systems based on the world-wide
web. With such a multitude of sites offering information on agrochemicals
there is a need to establish an authoritative site which can ensure
the involvement of all information owners in the process.
IUPAC offers the opportunity for an unbiased and authoritative
effort based on the collaboration of government, academic and industry
scientists. In addition, IUPAC reports and recommendations related
to agrochemicals are poorly known and under-utilized, and wider
circulation on the web site will increase the profile and influence
of the Union. Finally, access to information on the most recently
introduced pesticides tends to be difficult to obtain, and involvement
of industry in the IUPAC project will provide access to a major
untapped source of information
Methodology
Information owners within regulatory agencies, the agrochemical
industry and advisory bodies will be involved in the initial stages
of the project regarding availability of documents related to pesticide
properties, pesticide analytical methodology and regulatory standards.
Project efforts will be divided into 2 primary areas.
First, a series of technical pesticide profiles (basic physical
and chemical properties, environmental behaviour, toxicological
and ecotoxicological endpoints) will be prepared for inclusion in
the FAO/IAEA INFOCRIS system and also the IUPAC web site. To allow
prioritisation of effort, a list of pesticide products for which
technical profiles are most in demand will be developed. This list
will be based on the following criteria 1) most common detection
of residues in food commodities, 2) highest volume global distribution,
3) PIC-listed products, 4) recently introduced products. Based on
the information collected from resource organisations, project team
experts will prepare and arrange peer review of these technical
profiles prior to their dissemination.
Second, an "Agrochemical Core Information" web page will
be created on the IUPAC server to organise and disseminate available
information. Key documents and reports will be directly stored on
the IUPAC server and "hot" links will be established with
other web sites on which key information is accessible. Types of
documents to be stored will include 1) technical pesticide profiles,
2) glossary of terms for pesticide science, 3) recommended procedures
for pesticide evaluation 4) listing of pesticide experts available
via the IUPAC project system, 5) IUPAC project reports and recommendations.
In addition, a comprehensive listing of major web site information
links will be organised to include those of appropriate international
organisations, industry and government with posted information on
agrochemicals. Key information from the IUPAC web site will also
be included in the INFOCRIS system for dissemination via a CD ROM.
Working Style
Following project approval the Task Group will develop a workplan
and task assignment. Collaboration and joint sponsorship will be
arranged with the FAO/IAEA INFOCRIS project. The majority of project
work communication will occur via Email and phone conferences. At
least one face-to-face working session of the project team will
be required.