The European Union plans not to renew the approval of Dimethomorph

Recently, the European Union issued a draft regulation on the non-renewal of the approval of the active substance Dimethomorph. The Regulation does not renew the approval of the active substance Dimethomorph under (EC) No 1107/2009.  Member of EU will withdraw authorisation for plant protection products containing Dimethomorph as an active substance. The main reason for the non-continuation of the approval is that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) considers Dimethomorph to be an endocrine disruptor and reproductive toxicity Class 1B compound.

The comment period on the draft regulation is until February 13, 2024. At present, the date of approval of the EU registration authorization for the withdrawal of Dimethomorph has not been determined, according to the relevant EU regulations, after the withdrawal of Dimethomorph registration takes effect, members of EU must withdraw the registration authorization of pesticides containing Dimethomorph within 6 months, and the grace period for the use of existing pesticide products in stock shall not exceed 12 months. The EU may further reduce the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for Dimethomorph in agricultural products.

Dimethomorph is a derivative of cinnamic acid compounds, used to control cruciferous vegetables, melons, fruit trees, downy mildew, late blight and other plant diseases.

In October 2007, it was first approved under the old EU Regulation on Plant Protection Products (Directive 91/414/EEC) and subsequently included in the list of approved active substances under Regulation (EU) No 540/2011.

On May 26, 2023, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued the peer review results of Dimethomorph, which became the main reason for the ban of the substance because it belongs to the reproductive toxicity class 1B substance, which may damage reproductive ability, and was judged to meet the endocrine disruptor standards for humans and wild mammals.