Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC.

This Regulation lays down rules for the authorization of plant protection products in commercial form and for their placing on the market, use and control within the European Union. It sets out, on the one hand, rules for the approval of active substances, safeners and synergists, which plant protection products contain or consist of, and, on the other hand, rules for adjuvants and co-formulants. The purpose of these provisions is to ensure a high level of protection of both human and animal health and the environment and to improve the functioning of the internal market through the harmonization of the rules on the placing on the market of plant protection products, while improving agricultural production.
The Directive recalls the precautionary principle in order to ensure that active substances or products placed on the market do not adversely affect human or animal health or the environment. In particular, Member States shall not be prevented from applying the precautionary principle where there is scientific uncertainty as to the risks with regard to human or animal health or the environment posed by the plant protection products to be authorised in their territory.
Chapter II lays down detailed requirements and conditions for approval of active substances, safeners, synergists and co-formulants. Chapter III is devoted to plant protection products (requirements and content, authorization for use), whereas Chapter IV concerns adjuvants. Plant protection products shall be used properly. Proper use shall include the application of the principles of good plant protection practice and compliance with prescribed conditions. It shall also comply with the provisions of Directive 2009/128/EC and, in particular, with general principles of integrated pest management.
Chapter IX on emergency measures lays down the regulatory procedure to be taken immediately where it is clear that an approved active substance, safener, synergist or co-formulant or a plant protection product which has been authorized in accordance with this Regulation is likely to constitute a serious risk to human or animal health or the environment, and that such risk cannot be contained satisfactorily by means of measures taken by the Member State concerned.