5 - 7 October 2026
Novotel Barcelona City
Barcelona, Spain
Main Conference Day 2
Water Quality Monitoring Framework:
How Ctgb uses monitoring data to identify structural exceedances of the Regulatory Acceptable Concentration (RAC) in surface water
The process for re-evaluating products
PFAS Policy Decisions:
Netherlands' approach to PFAS in plant protection products
Water Framework Directive Integration:
Your ministry's intention to align authorisation criteria with WFD requirements
The 2027 deadline and what it means for product authorisations
How monitoring data informs both regulatory frameworks simultaneously
- Lindy Messchendrop - Policy Advisor, ctgb - Dutch Board for the Authorisation of Plant Protection Products and Biocides
The efficacy-safety trade-off: When agronomic needs conflict with precautionary safety margins.
Emerging health concerns around endocrine disruption, neurodevelopmental effects, and mixture toxicity
The persistent metabolite problem: TFA formation from PFAS in plant protection products creates contamination that conventional drinking water treatment cannot remove
Innovation in safer chemistry and precision application technologies offers pathways to maintain agricultural productivity whilst reducing human exposure
- David Ashworth - Biocides Expert, Klarus Consulting
Substitution challenges: Reformulating products to replace CMR, PBT, and ED substances whilst maintaining efficacy and market viability
Manufacturing realities: Production line adaptations, supply chain constraints, and quality control hurdles when implementing new requirements
Data generation bottlenecks: Practical challenges SMEs and manufacturers face meeting toxicological and ecotoxicological testing demands
Timeline misalignment: Examining whether regulatory deadlines reflect the technical realities of product development and validation cycles
Bridging the gap: Digital tools, industry-regulator dialogue, and collaborative solutions to align compliance obligations with operational feasibility
- Michael Werner - Head of Regulatory Affairs, Stockmeier Chemie GmbH & Co. KG
Letter of access obligations: What companies wanting to use EU active substance data must now secure for their dossiers
Data owner protection: How the extension benefits companies supporting active substance product dossiers in the EU
Ensuring data owners receive appropriate protection for their investment
- David Ashworth - Biocides Expert, Klarus Consulting
Machine-readable labels enable regulatory oversight and supply chain transparency.
Electronic record-keeping requirements transform IPM documentation and audit trails.
Implementation & interoperability; harmonised labelling format across EU Member States for simplicity in compliance
Integration with application equipment and farm management software.
- Anne Alix - Policy and Risk Management Leader EMEA & Co-Chair, Corteva AgriScience, CropLife Europe & AgriGuide
- Stefano Ravagli - Technical Regulatory Manager, DIACHEM S.p.A.
- David Ashworth - Biocides Expert, Klarus Consulting
- Pierre Cruse - Biocides Policy Team Leader, HSE
Industry challenges navigating complex approval processes under CLP
Managing transitions to safer alternatives whilst maintaining product efficacy
The cascading compliance implications of new hazard classifications
- Diana Kättström - Expert Safe and Sustainable Chemistry, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute
Ethical and scientific imperative: The Commission roadmap to phase out animal testing reflects both animal welfare concerns and recognises that in vitro methods and predictive modelling may provide better human-relevant data
OECD guideline developments and validation studies demonstrate technical feasibility.
Opportunities exist for companies that develop and validate New Approach Methodologies ahead of regulatory requirements.
- Tess Renahan - Advisor, PETA Science Consortium International e.V.