The working group discussions focussed on problems with the draft text identified at the last meeting, which the Commission has still not addressed. These are:

• the scope of products covered by the directive is unclear, for example, does it cover products imported from countries outside the EU? There was general agreement that the term "raw agricultural products" needs to be better defined;
• whether it is necessary to list pesticides prohibited by other EC legislation (eg dieldrin, aldrin etc.) in the Annexes;
• whether maximum residue levels should be set for cadusafos, ethoprophos, fipronil and fentins, based on an assessment of risk to infants, rather than prohibiting their use;
• the level of evidence which manufacturers would need to provide to demonstrate that a pesticide had not been used is not clear.

The Commission will now develop amended proposals, which it expects will be available in about a month's time. When these revised draft texts are published they will be the subject of public consultation by the Agency.