The European Commission has recently made the significant decision not to renew the approval for the active substance flufenacet, widely used in plant protection products. This decision comes after a thorough evaluation process under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, which governs the authorization of pesticides in the EU. The non-renewal will take effect shortly, and it is expected to impact manufacturers, suppliers, and users of plant protection products in the European market.

Key Points of the Decision

1、Non-Renewal of Approval
The approval for flufenacet was initially set to expire on June 15, 2025. However, after a detailed risk assessment, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that flufenacet presents significant risks, particularly as an endocrine disruptor for humans and non-target organisms. The substance was also flagged for its potential to contaminate groundwater at levels exceeding the statutory limit, posing serious environmental and health concerns.

2、Groundwater Contamination
One of the key findings was the potential for the flufenacet metabolite, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), to leach into groundwater, exceeding the EU’s statutory limit of 0.1 μg/l. This is especially concerning given TFA’s classification as toxic for reproduction under EU regulations.

3、Environmental Impact
The EFSA also identified high risks to algae in several scenarios of flufenacet use, further raising environmental concerns. These findings reinforced the decision to not renew the approval.

4、Transitional Measures and Grace Period
While the non-renewal is now confirmed, Member States will have a transition period to withdraw authorizations for products containing flufenacet. A grace period of up to 12 months may be granted to allow businesses to adjust to the new regulations.

Source: European Commission