Pesticides

Pesticides are chemical or biological products designed to prevent animals, plants, or microorganisms from damaging property or harming the health of humans or animals. Depending on its application, a pesticide can be either a biocidal or a plant-protection product. The Swedish Work Environment Authority issues permits for the use of pesticides to treat wood in qualification class 1 AV (ASS). The rules of use are found in the regulations on pesticides (AFS 1998:6). Currently, the following wood impregnations are in class 1 AV: creosote and other copper and chromium-based impregnating agents, alone or together with phosphorus or boron.

Plant protection products

Plant protection products are mainly used to protect plants and plant products in agriculture, forestry, and horticulture. They are used to protect against fungi, pests or competing plants. When importing or selling plant protection products, a chemical that consists of microorganisms, on the Swedish market, an application for authorisation must be submitted to the Swedish Chemicals Agency. Plant protection products can only be authorised if the active substance in the product is already approved within the EU. For research and development of plant protection products, an application for authorisation must be submitted to the Swedish Chemicals Agency.

Biocidal products

Biocidal products are all those pesticides that are not plant protection products. Biocidal products that function through chemical or biological means are covered by biocidal legislation. Examples are disinfectants, mosquito repellents, wood preservatives, rat poison or boat antifouling paint. However, biocidal products which function in a physical or mechanical means are not covered by the rules on biocides. For example, a mechanical mousetrap is such a product. When importing, selling, transferring, and using a biocidal product (which is chemical or consists of microorganisms) in Sweden, an application for approval must be submitted to the Swedish Chemicals Agency. It is this agency that determines whether an application for approval meets the requirements of current regulations. Biocidal products regulated by the EU Biocidal Products Regulation may be used for research and development purposes without authorisation, provided that they are used following the provisions of Article 56 of the BPR and if the other conditions for a derogation are met. If such an experiment could involve a release into the environment, the Swedish Chemicals Agency must be notified of the use in advance. Notification is made via the R4BP register at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). 

Biological pesticides

Both biocidal products and plant protection products can be biological pesticides. In biological pesticides, natural enemies of the pests to be suppressed are often used. Natural enemies can be microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi, or microorganisms such as nematodes (roundworms), insects or arachnids, or NIS. Organisms used for biological control usually survive if the target organisms remain. When biological control organisms die, they degrade rapidly in the environment. The pest organisms find it difficult to build up resistance to the agent since the effect mechanisms are complex. A biological product is often more specific than a chemical agent, which reduces the risk of harming other organisms than those to be controlled. Biological pesticides containing nematodes, insects, or arachnids must not have harmful effects on ecosystems outside the area of use. Therefore, such organisms used for biological control must either be naturally occurring in the Swedish environment or lack the ability to establish themselves here. Products sold or used as biological pesticides consisting of microorganisms in Sweden must be approved by the Swedish Chemicals Agency.

Biotechnical organisms

Biotechnological organisms are products consisting of or containing living organisms produced to act as a pesticide or for other technological applications. Some biotechnological organisms may be genetically modified organisms or GMOs. Different rules apply if the biotechnological organism consists of microorganisms or macroorganisms.

Microorganisms as biological pesticides

Biological pesticides consisting of microorganisms, as with chemical pesticides, must be approved by the Swedish Chemicals Agency to be sold or used in Sweden. Microorganisms that have been genetically modified must also comply with regulations for genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Macroorganisms (NIS) as biological pesticides

As of July 2016, biological pesticides consisting of nematodes, insects, or arachnids (NIS) do not require product approval from the Swedish Chemicals Agency. However, the biological species need to be approved to be used as pesticides. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for testing and approval of species of NIS to be used as biological pesticides. Once an NIS has been approved, it is possible for anyone who wishes to use it as a pesticide. Approval may be subject to conditions, such as limiting its use in greenhouses for environmental reasons. An authorisation may be reviewed if new information on negative environmental impacts comes to light.