Expert groups

The Minor Uses Coordination Facility (MUCF) provides administrative and technical support to the Expert Groups (EGs). It has developed Terms of Reference for these working groups in close cooperation with their respective Chair(s) and co-Chair(s). Currently, the MUCF facilitates the following Expert Groups:

The Coordination Facility analyses information generated by MUCF Member and Partner Countries and by the Commodity Expert Groups to identify issues of general interest aimed at supporting to close minor use plant protection solution gaps.

The Coordination Facility supports the activities of the Commodity Expert Groups by providing, maintaining and populating the European Minor Uses Database (EUMUDA).

Issues identified by the Commodity Expert Groups arising from Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 are addressed by the Horizontal Expert Group. Additionally, the Horizontal Expert Group, with the support of the Coordination Facility, can identify and prioritize issues for resolution by the Steering Group.

Although only a limited number of MUCF Member and Partner Countries participate in the Expert Groups, they act for all EU Member States and European countries which have implemented Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009.

The Coordination Facility has developed rules on the composition and the number of attendees in the Expert Groups.

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Rules on participation of experts

Commodity Expert Groups

The Commodity Expert Groups (CEGs) consist of national minor use experts and representatives from growers' associations or grower groups. These groups cover the following commodities:

The primary tasks of the CEGs are to identify and compile the minor use needs of Member Countries within their commodity sectors and to determine solutions to address and solve these needs. The work of the CEGs is project -based (crop x pest x solution).

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Terms of Reference of the Commodity Expert Groups

Horizontal Expert Group

The Horizontal Expert Group (HEG) comprises the Chair(s) and co-Chair(s) of the CEGs, representatives of Member States, growers' associations, and relevant representatives of the plant protection industry.

Chair(s) of the HEG:

  • Chair: Rauno Aljas, representative of Estonia, since October 2024.
  • Co-Chair: MUCF Coordinator

Previous Chair(s) of the HEG:

  • Jana Johansen-Hladilova, representative of Norway, from March 2021 to October 2024.
  • Donal Lynch, representative of Ireland, from November 2017 to March 2021.
  • Johan Roman, representative of the Netherlands, from September 2015 to March 2017.

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Terms of Reference of the Horizontal Expert Group

Residue Expert Group

The Residue Expert Group (ReEG) aims to close minor use gaps at the European level by proposing solutions for setting Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) through extrapolation of residue data for plant protection products (PPPs).

Chair(s) of the ReEG:

  • Chair: vacant.
  • Co-Chair: Tiia (Tukes) Mäkinen-Töykkä, representative of Finland, since October 2024.

Previous Chair(s) of the ReEG:

  • José-Luis Alonso Prados, representative of Spain, from March 2023 to October 2024.
  • Kasten Hohgardt, representative of Germany, from March 2023 to October 2024.

The HEG discusses issues related to the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 concerning minor uses. These include topics that exceed the scope of individual Commodity Expert Groups, such as:

  • Establishing an acceptable definition of minor uses.
  • Creating an atmosphere to encourage mutual recognition and zonal evaluation.
  • Stimulating a level playing field across Member States.

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Terms of Reference of the Residue Expert Group