Search

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State, the Netherlands, and co-rapporteur Member State, France, for the pesticide active substance laminarin are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of laminarin as elicitor on apple, pear, vine, kiwi, green bean, lettuce, strawberry, tomato, cucurbits, aubergine and pepper. The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment, are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed. Concerns are identified., (© 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessment carried out by the competent authority of the rapporteur Member State, the United Kingdom, for the pesticide active substance metazachlor are reported. The context of the peer review was that requested by the European Commission following the submission and evaluation of confirmatory data regarding the groundwater exposure of metabolites and their toxicological relevance triggering an assessment. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of metazachlor as a herbicide on winter and spring rapeseed and on ornamental trees and shrubs. The reliable endpoints concluded as being appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment, derived from the available studies and literature in the dossier peer reviewed, are presented. Concerns are identified., (© 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Dow AgroSciences submitted an application to the competent national authority in Spain (evaluating Member State (EMS)) to modify maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substance chlorpyrifos-methyl in kaki/Japanese persimmons and granate apples/pomegranates. The data submitted in support of this MRL application were found to be sufficient to derive MRL proposals for chlorpyrifos-methyl and for the optional residue definition that refers to 3,5,6-trichloropyridinol (3,5,6-TCP) in the fruits under consideration. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of chlorpyrifos-methyl in plant matrices under consideration. For the enforcement of 3,5,6-TCP residues in the crops under consideration, the applicant has to perform validation of the hydrolysis step of analytical enforcement method and to submit an independent laboratory validation (ILV) for high acid content matrices. Based on the risk assessment results and provided that the conclusions of the MRL review are taken into consideration, EFSA concludes that the long-term and short-term intake of residues of chlorpyrifos-methyl and metabolite 3,5,6-TCP resulting from the existing and the intended uses is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health., (© 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State, the United Kingdom, and co-rapporteur Member State, Ireland, for the pesticide active substance mecoprop-P are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of mecoprop-P as a herbicide on winter and spring wheat (including durum and spelt), barley, rye, oats and triticale. The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment, are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed. Concerns are identified., (© 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Nufarm España S.A. submitted an application to the competent national authority in Spain to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRL) for the active substance dichlorprop-P in citrus fruits (except oranges). The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive MRL proposals for all crops under consideration. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of dichlorprop-P in citrus fruits. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the short-term and long-term intake of residues resulting from the use of dichlorprop-P according to the reported agricultural practices is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health., (© 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Adama Irvita N.V. submitted a request to the competent national authority in Denmark to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substance tau-fluvalinate in citrus fruits. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive a MRL proposal of 0.4 mg/kg for citrus fruit under consideration. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of tau-fluvalinate in the commodities under consideration. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the short-term and long-term intake of residues resulting from the use of tau-fluvalinate on citrus fruits according to the reported agricultural practice is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health., (© 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the evaluating Member State (EMS) Greece received an application from Dow AgroSciences to set an import tolerance for the active substance 2,4-D in genetically modified (GM) maize imported from Canada and the USA. The modification confers tolerance to the herbicide 2,4-D. Greece drafted an evaluation report in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 which was submitted to the European Commission and forwarded to EFSA. According to EFSA, the data submitted are sufficient to conclude that a change of the existing maximum residue level (MRL) set at the limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.05 mg/kg in maize is not required. Analytical enforcement methods are available to control the residues of 2,4-D in cereals and no risk for consumers was identified for the notified use on GM maize expressing the aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase 1 (AAD-1) protein imported from Canada and the USA., (© 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)

According to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, EFSA has reviewed the maximum residue levels (MRLs) currently established at European level for the pesticide active substance triflumuron. To assess the occurrence of triflumuron residues in plants, processed commodities, rotational crops and livestock, EFSA considered the conclusions derived in the framework of Directive 91/414/EEC as well as the European authorisations reported by Member States (including the supporting residues data). Based on the assessment of the available data, MRL proposals were derived and a consumer risk assessment was carried out. Although no apparent risk to consumers was identified, some information required by the regulatory framework was missing. Hence, the consumer risk assessment is considered indicative only and all MRL proposals derived by EFSA still require further consideration by risk managers., (© 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the evaluating Member State, Italy, received an application from Syngenta to modify the existing maximum residue level (MRL) for the active substance penconazole in grapes. The data submitted in support of the request are sufficient to derive a MRL proposal of 0.4 mg/kg for the intended use on grapes. Adequate analytical enforcement methods are available to control the residues of penconazole in grapes. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concludes that the intended use of penconazole on grapes will not result in a consumer exposure exceeding the toxicological reference values and therefore is unlikely to pose a consumer health risk. However, these results should be considered provisional due to the fact that the risk assessment for triazole derivate metabolites is still pending., (© 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the evaluating Member State (EMS), the Netherlands, received two applications from ISK Biosciences Europe N.V. to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substance flonicamid in various commodities. EFSA concludes that the data submitted were sufficient to derive MRL proposals of 0.3 mg/kg for apricots, 0.5 mg/kg for head cabbage, and 1.5 mg/kg for beans and peas with pods. No change of the existing MRL set at the limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.03 mg/kg was required for sugar beet. Furthermore, EFSA derived new MRL proposals for some commodities of animal origin. Adequate analytical enforcement methods are available to control the residues of flonicamid on the commodities under consideration. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concludes that the proposed use of flonicamid on the commodities under consideration will not result in a consumer exposure exceeding the toxicological reference values and therefore is unlikely to pose a consumer health risk., (© 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Bayer CropScience submitted a request to the competent national authority in Spain to modify the existing maximum residue level (MRL) for the active substance ethephon in kaki/Japanese persimmons. The data submitted in support of the request are sufficient to derive a MRL proposal for the crop under consideration. An adequate analytical method for enforcement is available to control the residues of ethephon in kaki/Japanese persimmon fruits. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the short-term and long-term intake of residues resulting from the use of ethephon according to the reported agricultural practice is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health., (© 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)

According to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, EFSA has reviewed the maximum residue levels (MRLs) currently established at European level for the pesticide active substance chlorpyrifos-methyl. To assess the occurrence of chlorpyrifos-methyl residues in plants, processed commodities, rotational crops and livestock, EFSA considered the conclusions derived in the framework of Directive 91/414/EEC, the MRLs established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission as well as the European authorisations reported by Member States (including the supporting residues data). Based on the assessment of the available data, MRL proposals were derived and a consumer risk assessment was carried out. Some information required by the regulatory framework was missing and a possible chronic risk to consumers was identified. Hence, the consumer risk assessment is considered indicative only, some MRL proposals derived by EFSA still require further consideration by risk managers and measures for reduction of the consumer exposure should also be considered., (© 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the evaluating Member State (EMS), the Netherlands, received an application from Arysta LifeScience Great Britain Limited to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substance etridiazole in various crops. To accommodate for the intended uses of etridiazole, the Netherlands proposed to raise the existing MRLs from the limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.05* mg/kg to 0.4 mg/kg in gherkin, courgette and other cucurbits with edible peel, and to raise the existing MRL value of 0.1 mg/kg to 0.4 mg/kg in cucumber. The Netherlands drafted an evaluation report in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, which was submitted to the European Commission and forwarded to EFSA. Although the intended uses on gherkin, courgette and other cucurbits with edible peel are supported by residue trials, EFSA did not derive MRL proposals because appropriate information on the toxicological profile and on the relevance of the major plant metabolites 5-hydroxyethoxyetridiazole acid and 3-hydroxymethyletridiazole has not been provided. Thus, the tentative risk assessment is affected by a high degree of uncertainty., (© 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessment carried out by the competent authority of the rapporteur Member State, Italy, for the pesticide active substance isoxaflutole are reported. The context of the peer review was that requested by the European Commission following the submission and evaluation of negligible exposure data. EFSA prepared a conclusion where the assessment of the information is presented according to the draft technical guidance on assessment of negligible exposure of an active substance in a plant protection product under realistic conditions of use. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of isoxaflutole as a herbicide on maize and sweet corn., (© 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Sumitomo Chemical Agro Europe S.A.S submitted a request to the competent national authority of Finland to modify the existing maximum residue level (MRL) for the active substance tolclofos-methyl in potatoes. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive an MRL proposal of 0.2 mg/kg. An amendment of the existing MRLs for food of animal origin was not found necessary. Adequate analytical enforcement methods are available to control the residues of tolclofos-methyl in potatoes. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the proposed use of tolclofos-methyl on potatoes will not result in a consumer exposure exceeding the toxicological reference value and therefore is unlikely to pose a consumer health risk., (© 2017 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)

HIV-1, like the other lentiviruses, has evolved the ability to infect nondividing cells including macrophages. HIV-1 replication in monocytes/macrophages entails peculiar features and differs in many respects from that in CD4 T lymphocytes. HIV-1 exhibits different tropism for CD4 T cells and macrophages. The virus can enter macrophages via several routes. Mitosis is not required for nuclear import of viral DNA or for its integration into the host cell genome. Specific cellular factors are required for HIV-1 transcription in macrophages. The assembly and budding of viral particles in macrophages take place in late endosomal compartments. Viral particles can use the exosome pathway to exit cells. Given their functions in host defence against pathogens and the regulation of the immune response plus their permissivity to HIV-1 infection, monocytes/macrophages exert a dual role in HIV infection. They contribute to the establishment and persistence of HIV-1 infection, and may activate surrounding T cells favouring their infection. Furthermore, monocytes/macrophages act as a Trojan horse to transmit HIV-1 to the central nervous system. They also exhibit antiviral activity and express many molecules that inhibit HIV-1 replication. Activated microglia and macrophages may also exert a neurotrophic and neuroprotective effect on infected brain regulating glutamate metabolism or by secretion of neurotrophins. This review will discuss specific aspects of viral replication in monocytes/macrophages and the role of their interactions with the cellular environment in HIV-1 infection swinging between protection and pathogenesis.

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a potentially immunosuppressive agent that has been suggested to act as a cofactor in the progression of HIV disease. Exposure of human macrophages to HHV-6A or HHV-6B profoundly impaired their ability to produce interleukin 12 (IL-12) upon stimulation with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). By contrast, the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha); regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES); and macrophage inflammatory protein 1 beta (MIP-1 beta) was not negatively affected. To exclude the involvement of IL-12-suppressive cytokines, such as IL-10 and TNF-alpha, the viral stocks were fractionated by ultra-centrifugation. The bulk of the suppressive activity was recovered within the virion-rich pelleted fraction that was virtually devoid of such cytokines. IL-12 suppression was independent of viral replication, and the effect was not abrogated upon ultraviolet-light inactivation of the viral inoculum. The mechanism of HHV-6-mediated IL-12 suppression was investigated by RNase protection assays, which demonstrated unaltered levels of IL-12 p35 mRNA and only a modest reduction in p40 mRNA, which was insufficient to account for the near-complete loss of both extracellular and intracellular IL-12 protein. Moreover, both the IFN-gamma and the LPS signaling pathways were intact in HHV-6-treated cells. These data suggest that HHV-6 can dramatically affect the generation of effective cellular immune responses, providing a novel potential mechanism of HHV-6-mediated immunosuppression.

The unexpected encounter between the fields of HIV and chemokines has opened new perspectives for understanding the mechanisms of AIDS pathogenesis, as well as for the development of effective therapies and vaccines. Selected chemokines act as potent natural inhibitors of HIV infection, as they bind and downmodulate chemokine receptors that serve as critical coreceptors for HIV to gain access into cells. The differential usage of the two major HIV coreceptors, CCR5 and CXCR4, determines the biological diversity among HIV variants. Most primary HIV strains use CCR5 as a coreceptor and thereby are sensitive to inhibition by the CCR5-ligand chemokines, RANTES, MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta. The high level of expression of these proinflammatory chemokines in HIV-infected secondary lymphoid tissues may help to explain the inherently slow course of HIV disease. The crucial role played by CCR5 in the physiology of HIV infection is further attested by the near-complete resistance to HIV infection in people carrying a homozygous 32 bp deletion within the CCR5 gene (CCR5-delta32). A smaller proportion of HIV isolates, commonly emerging in concomitance with the clinical progression toward AIDS, uses CXCR4 as a coreceptor and is inhibited by the CXCR4 ligand, SDF-1. The high level of expresion of SDF-1 in the genital mucosa may help to explain the inefficient transmission of CXCR4-tropic HIV. Although chemokines or derivative-molecules could be exploited as therapeutic agents against HIV, the risk of inducing inflammatory side-effects or of interfering with the physiology of the homeostatic chemokine system represents a potential limitation. However, the ability of chemokines to block HIV infection can be uncoupled from their receptor-mediated signaling activity, thus providing a theoretical foundation for the rational design of safe and effective chemokine receptor inhibitors.