Non-dietary human exposure

This guidance provides information on non-dietary exposure risk assessments for plant protection products (PPP) and active substances. It is not intended to be a complete guide but is a source of information relating to topics where advice is frequently sought.

Before PPP are placed on the market, they are assessed to ensure they do not have any harmful effect on human health. One aspect of this risk assessment considers exposure via non-dietary routes, including inhalation, dermal absorption and ingestion.

In a non-dietary exposure risk assessment, the following groups are considered:

Assessing non-dietary exposure

All current applications submitted for authorisation in GB should be conducted with the 2014 EFSA Exposure Guidance and calculator (EFSA Website) where appropriate.

The 2022 update to the EFSA Exposure Guidance has been endorsed in the EU and will be implemented for EU assessments from 1st January 2023.

HSE propose to implement the updated guidance in GB and we will be seeking stakeholders’ views on that proposal, which will include the possible timeline for use in GB.

Assessing non-dietary exposure in NI

All applications submitted for authorisation in NI should be conducted with the 2022 EFSA Exposure Guidance and calculator where appropriate from 1 January 2023.

2022 EFSA Exposure Guidance (EFSA website).

Assessing non-dietary exposure to operators, workers, bystanders and residents

Guidance on the assessments required for non-dietary exposure to operators, workers, bystanders and residents are detailed on the following pages:

Updated 2022-12-16