Software tool for calculating the predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) of plant protection products (PPP) in soil for permanent and annual crops – Bug fixing & update report

Abstract

PERSAM is a software tool for predicting environmental concentrations of plant protection products (PPPs) in soil commissioned by EFSA. The PERSAM tool was first launched in 2013. In support of the EFSA guidance document for predicting environmental concentrations of PPPs in soil (2017), the PERSAM software tool was updated for calculating the predicted environmental concentration of PPPs in soil. The computerised tools will be released for use by applicants and risk assessors for the evaluation of PPPs and transformation products according to Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) 1107/2009. The software application assists the user in performing calculations using the analytical model, as described in the guidance document for predicting environmental concentrations of PPPs in soil (2017). More specifically, the software will be able to calculate: Tier-1 predicted environmental concentrations (PEC); Tier-2 95th-percentile PECs; and the selection of the grid cell including the scenario properties corresponding to the 95th-percentile PEC as needed for the scenario development at Tier 3A, and generation of a so-called transfer file that can be read by the numerical models described in the guidance document. PERSAM generates reports intended for regulatory submissions. Based on these reports authorities need to be able to check or reproduce the model results. This report describes the issues addressed and the solutions implemented in PERSAM 3.0.2 to 3.0.9.