O ur code of conduct embodies the commitment of EBIC’s members to place plant biostimulants on the market in a way that promotes transparency and allows farmers to make informed choices about the additional benefits that biostimulants can bring to their crop management systems.
The EBIC Code of Conduct for Placing Plant Biostimulants on the Market was developed to communicate members’ commitment to operating with high ethical standards in doing business, notably:The Code of Conduct says that EBIC members “will not claim any direct plant protection effects that have not been authorised according to the regulations in effect”. This provision takes into account differing product definitions and rules for putting them on the market in different markets. The same effect might be considered a plant protection effect in one market and a biostimulants effect in another. EBIC members commit to respect local regulations and not to misuse authorisation in one market to sell products in another.
In the European Union, it is already illegal to make unauthorised plant protection claims. As a result, anyone (crop advisor or salesperson) who makes off-label claims or suggests using a non-authorised product as a plant protection product may face personal as well as professional liability for doing so.
The Code represents a journey for EBIC members. The first task each company has is to look at what it needs to do to reach full compliance and what is a realistic target date for each step. This review results in an individual compliance plan that is filed with EBIC secretariat.
If a complaint is filed that a company is violating its commitment: