EU notifies WTO regarding non-renewals of bromoxynil and mancozeb

Date:04-29-2020

The European Commission notified the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on April 17 with the draft regulations regarding non-renewals of bromoxynil and mancozeb. The draft Commission Implementing Regulation provides that the approval of the two active substances is not renewed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009.

Mancozeb

Existing authorisations of plant protection products containing mancozeb will be withdrawn and such products can then no longer be placed on the market. The non-renewal of the approval is based on a scientific assessment conducted under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 by experts from the Member States of the European Union and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

This decision only concerns the placing on the market of mancozeb and plant protection products containing it. Following non-renewal of approval and the expiry of all grace periods for stocks of products containing this substance, separate action will be taken to swiftly lower all existing MRLs to the limit of quantification and a separate notification will be made in accordance with SPS procedures. As soon as the lowered MRLs will be applicable (expected in the third quarter of 2020), foodstuffs with higher levels of mancozeb will become non-compliant and can no longer be placed on the EU market.

Proposed date of adoption: 3rd quarter 2020
Proposed date of entry into force: 20 days following publication in the Official Journal of the EU
Final date for comments: 60 days from notification

Bromoxynil

EU Member States shall withdraw authorisations for plant protection products containing bromoxynil as an active substance. The non-renewal of approval is based on the first evaluation of the substance for use as a pesticide active substance in the EU under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. The substance was formerly assessed and approved under Directive 91/414/ EEC.

This decision only concerns the placing on the market of this substance and plant protection products containing it. Following non-approval and the expiry of all grace periods for stocks of products containing this substance, separate action may be taken on MRLs and a separate notification will be made in accordance with SPS procedures.

Proposed date of adoption: 4th quarter 2020
Proposed date of entry into force: 3 days following publication in the Official Journal of the EU
Final date for comments: 60 days from notification