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 the respective Chair(s) and co-Chair(s). For the time being, the MUCF facilitates a Horizontal Expert Group (HEG) with a newly established Residue Expert Group (ReEG) as a subsection of the group, and several Commodity Expert Groups (CEG).
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 multiple minor uses plant protection solution gaps.

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

Furthermore, it addresses issues identified by the Commodity Expert Groups arising from Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 to the Horizontal Expert Group. The Horizontal Expert Group can identify, with the help of the Coordination Facility, 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.

Commodity Expert Groups

The Commodity Expert Groups (CEGs) consist of national minor use experts and representatives of the respective growers associations or grower groups. CEGs are covering the following commodities: Fresh herbs and spices, Fruits and Vegetables, Hops, Mushrooms, Ornamentals, Rice, Seeds and Tobacco.

The main tasks of the CEGs are to help identifying and compiling the needs of the Member States concerning minor use gaps in their commodity sectors followed by a further determination what is needed to find solutions for those needs. The work of the CEGs is project-based.

Horizontal Expert Group

The Horizontal Expert Group (HEG) consists of the chairs of the CEGs and representatives of Member States, growers associations and industry.

The HEG has been chaired by Jana Johansen-Hladilova, representative of Norway, since March 2021.

Previous chairs :
Donal Lynch, representative of Ireland, from November 2017 to March 2021.
Johan Roman, representative of the Netherlands, from September 2015 to March 2017.

The HEG is tasked to discuss issues with the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 related to minor uses. It concerns issues exceeding the individual Commodity Expert Groups.

The HEG discusses issues such as the acceptable definition of minor uses, how to create an atmosphere to stimulate mutual recognition by creating a level playing field and stimulate zonal evaluation related to minor uses.