The European Commission has notified the WTO that, in the first quarter of 2019, it will no longer approve the registration of the fungicide chlorothalonil.

Release Date:

2018-12-11

　　On December 4, the European Commission notified the WTO of its recommendation to no longer renew the EU registration of the fungicide chlorothalonil. This notification is expected to be adopted in the first quarter of 2019, though a formal ban has not yet been issued.
　　Chlorothalonil was approved in the European Union under the old Plant Protection Products Directive (Directive 91/414/EEC) in March 2006; this re‑evaluation is being conducted under the new Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009.
　　The European Commission has notified the WTO that, in the first quarter of 2019, it will no longer approve the registration of the fungicide chlorothalonil.
　　Main reason
　　During the member state evaluation and peer review processes, numerous critical issues remain unresolved and undetermined. According to the conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)’s assessment report, the main reasons are as follows:
　　1. First, it cannot be ruled out that chlorothalonil possesses potential genotoxicity. Based on existing data, the residual concentrations of several identified toxicologically relevant metabolites in groundwater exceed the reference value of 0.1 µg/L, posing an exposure risk. Furthermore, high risks to amphibians and fish have also been confirmed.
　　2. Furthermore, according to the CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, chlorothalonil is classified as a Category 2 carcinogen; however, the EFSA assessment report indicates that its hazard classification should be more stringent and reclassified as a Category 1B carcinogen.
　　3. Furthermore, due to the lack of residue data in plants and livestock, a dietary risk assessment for consumers could not be completed.
　　According to the European Union Pesticide The requirements for the approval of active substances under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 (see Article 4) stipulate that the use of plant protection products containing such substances must not adversely affect human health or the environment. Following a comprehensive assessment, taking into account the draft evaluations submitted by the evaluating Member States and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), as well as the results of peer review, the Commission has concluded that the conditions for the approval of this substance are no longer met and has therefore proposed to refuse its approval.
　　The current approval for chlorothalonil is valid until October 31, 2019. Following the official EU ban announcement, the relevant products must also be withdrawn from the EU market within the prescribed timeframe.