Approval for chlorothalonil withdrawn with immediate effect
The Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) has decided to withdraw with immediate effect the marketing authorization for products containing the fungicide chlorothalonil. This withdrawal of approval is being carried out as part of the program to review old plant protection products. To date, nearly 100 active ingredients have been subjected to such a review.
After the announcement of the revocation of the permit for the Active ingredient Chlorothalonil by the FOAG in summer 2019, interested parties (manufacturers and environmental protection organizations) were able to make their views known. The industry submitted new data from recognized laboratories concerning the Toxicity of certain degradation products. The examination of the additional information by the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) revealed that it cannot be ruled out that certain degradation products of this fungicide do not have any long-term negative effects on health. In addition, the FSVO shares the EU Commission's assessment that chlorothalonil must be classified as probably carcinogenic. Thus, all Groundwater metabolites to be considered relevant.
Because these products are expected to exceed regulatory standards for drinking water, it is necessary to act quickly to reduce their presence in the Groundwater to reduce. The FOAG is therefore withdrawing the sales permit for the products with immediate effect and banning their use from January 1, 2020.
Almost 100 active ingredients already reviewed
The current requirements for approval of plant protection products are higher than they were twenty years ago. Products that were approved in the 1970s and 1980s would not necessarily receive approval today. In 2010, the federal government introduced a program to review old crop protection products to ensure they still meet current requirements.
As part of this review, it has now been determined that certain degradation products of chlorothalonil in groundwater must be considered relevant. To date, nearly 100 active substances that have been identified as Plant protection products used are subject to such a review. For the first time, the question of the relevance of a degradation product in groundwater is leading to the withdrawal of approval for plant protection products.
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