Environmental and health risk assessment of Acarus siro and Suidasia medanensis in the product POWERfood 3.0

The assessment is being carried out for the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

Background

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has received an application for approval of the product POWERfood 3.0. The product is to be used as feed for various predatory mites in indoor plantings, open fields and greenhouses. Acarus siro, Suidasia medanensis and Carpoglyphus lactis constitute the product. Carpoglyphus lactis has previously been assessed by the VKM.

Assignment

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority asks VKM to assess and provide opinions on the following:

• Human health risk from using the plant protection product POWERfood 3.0.

• Human health risk from consumption of food products where Acarus siro and Suidasia medanensis are used,

• Occurrence and distribution of the organisms, and whether they occur naturally in Norway,

• The organisms’ potential to establish and spread under Norwegian climatic conditions,

• Potential effects on native species, and

• Uncertainty about taxonomy that may influence the risk assessment.

Project group

Johan A. Stenberg – Panel on Plant Health (Scientific Lead)

Anders Nielsen – Panel on Biodiversity

Lawrence R. Kirkendall – Panel on Biodiversity

Kjetil Klaveness Melby – Panel on Genetically modified organisms - Medicinal Products

Selamawit Tekle Gobena – VKM Secretariat (Project Manager)

Daniel Flø – VKM Secretariat

The risk assessment will be approved by the Panel on Plant Health and is scheduled to be published in June 2025.