Thiamethoxam is again approved for sale, use, production and import in Brazil

The First Court of the Federal District of Brazil has decided to lift restrictions on the sale, use, production or import of Thiamethoxam containing agrochemical products in Brazil. 

The decision reverses a February announcement by Brazil's Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) restricting the product. The Federal District Court accepted the technical and legal arguments put forward by the Brazilian Department of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa).

From the date of this decision, products containing Thiamethoxam can be commercialized and recommended to be used again according to the instructions on the label. 

Thiamethoxam is a second-generation neonicotinoid insecticide with a toxicological class III (moderate toxicity) that can be used on a wide range of crops. 

Daniela Rezio, Vegetable Health Manager at the Crop Protection Agency, said: "This new decision is important for retailers, growers, professionals and society as a whole, reminding technicians of the correct and safe use of this product for the benefit of agricultural production, food security and environmental protection.

The Pesticide Act stipulates that Thiamethoxam can only be suspended by Mapa, which is responsible for pesticide registration and reevaluation. According to the court ruling, in order to restrict the use of a registered product, the Ministry of Agriculture is required to develop a plant disease control plan to replace the product. 

With the new resolution, distributors, cooperatives and retailers are once again authorized to follow the recommendations to commercialize products containing Thiamethoxam, and Brazilian farmers can continue to use such products if instructed by technicians to comply with the labels and recommendations.

Rodrigo Baiocchi, Coordinator of Pesticides and biological Inputs for Vegetable Health Management at the Crop Protection Agency, stressed that "Although the use of this active ingredient is permitted, growers must follow the recommendations of those officially registered with the Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy to use it." This avoids the risk of overmedication, which can be very harmful to pollinators, the growers themselves and society.