29.2.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities L 55/25 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 451/2000 of 28 February 2000 laying down the detailed rules for the implementation of the second and third stages of the work programme referred to in Article 8(2) of Council Directive 91/414/EEC THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market ('), as last amended by Commission Directive 1999/ 80/EC (3, and in particular Article 8(2), second subparagraph, thereof, Whereas: 1) The Commission is to undertake a work programme for the gradual examination of active substances on the market two years after the date of notification of Directive 91/414/EEC within a period of 12 years. The first stage of the programme was laid down by Commis- sion Regulation (EEC) No 3600/92 of 11 December 1992 laying down the detailed rules for the implementa- tion of the first stage of the work programme referred to in Article 8(2) of Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1972/1999 (#). The first stage is ongoing. It is necessary to continue and speed up the examination of the remaining active substances, taking into account experi- ence from the first stage. Given the very high number of existing active substances on the market still to be evaluated, a programme in several phases must be established. Experience has shown that the evaluation and decision-making on an active substance is a time-consuming process. It is there- fore not yet possible to provide for a detailed evaluation of all the existing active substances. Therefore the second stage will provide for the detailed evaluation of a number of active substances comparable to the number covered in the first stage whilst the third stage will prepare for the subsequent evaluation of active substances. For certain categories of active substances further harmonisation is required concerning the dossier to be provided and the evaluation to be carried out. Those categories should therefore not be included in the current proposed work programme but should be covered by further stages for their evaluation with a view to their possible inclusion in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC. For the second stage a selection should be made taking into account, in a balanced manner, such aspects as health and/or environmental concern, possibility of leaving residues in treated products, importance of the 230, 19.8.1991, p. 1. 210, 10.8.1999, p. 13. () O] L () O] L () O] L 366, 15.12.1992, p. 10. () OJ L 244, 16.9.1999, p. 41. (10) preparations containing these substances for agriculture, any manifest data gaps and any similarity of chemical or biological properties. The relationships between producers, Member States and the Commission and the obligations on each of the parties for the implementation of the programme should be laid down, taking into account experience gained during the first stage of the programme. Close coopera- tion between all parties involved is necessary to increase the efficiency of the programme. Technical or scientific information about an active substance, in particular with regard to its potentially dangerous effects or its residues, submitted within the relevant time limits by any other interested parties should also be taken into consideration in the evalu- ations. A notification procedure should be provided by which interested producers have the right to inform the Commission of their interest in securing the inclusion of an active substance in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC and of their undertaking to submit all the required infor- mation for a proper evaluation of, and decision on, that active substance in the light of the criteria for inclusion set out in Article 5 of Directive 91/414/EEC. Therefore the information submitted should include information on a limited range of representative uses for which the notifier must demonstrate, on the basis of the data submitted, that for one or more preparations the requirements of Directive 91/414/EEC in relation to the criteria referred to in its Article 5 can be met. It is necessary to define the obligations of notifiers with regard to the formats, periods and recipient authorities for the information to be submitted. The task of evaluation should be distributed among the competent authorities of the Member States. Therefore, for each active substance a rapporteur Member State should be designated to examine and evaluate the infor- mation submitted and to present to the Commission the results of the evaluation and a recommendation for a decision to be taken with regard to the active substance concerned. Rapporteur Member States should first examine dossiers received, assess the completeness check provided by the notifiers and report to the Commission. It should be established that Member States should send draft reports of their evaluations to the Commission generally within 12 months after the dossiers submitted by notifiers have been considered complete.