EU Withdraws Approval of Metribuzin over Health and Environmental Concerns

The European Union (EU) has decided not to renew the approval of the herbicide metribuzin due to concerns about its possible risks to human health and the environment. The decision comes after the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) study, which highlighted the substance's endocrine disruptive effects and possible hazards to bees.

As a result, Member States must withdraw authorisations for plant protection products containing metribuzin by 24 May 2025. Any grace period granted by Member States under Article 46 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 shall expire by 24 November 2025

Reason for Non-Renewal

The European Union (EU) has chosen not to extend the approval for the active ingredient metribuzin. This decision is based on concerns made by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) about possible hazards to human health and the environment, particularly bees.

EFSA's Concerns:

• Endocrine Disruption: Metribuzin is identified to alter thyroid hormones.

• Human Exposure: Estimates of bystander and resident exposure levels exceed the Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (AOEL) value for all typical uses investigated. Consequently, potential risks to human health cannot be ruled out.

• Bee Risk: Exposure levels surpass defined safety limits, and studies do not rule out a significant risk to pollinators.

Alternative Control Methods

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has determined that metribuzin is not essential to manage a substantial threat to plant health that cannot be addressed by other available means, including non-chemical approaches. While the herbicide has been used to manage both narrowleaf and broadleaf weeds, EFSA discovered that a variety of non-chemical approaches are available, though some may be less efficient or cost-effective than chemical ones.
 

Next Steps

Member States must ensure the withdrawal of metribuzin-based authorisations and enforce the grace period deadlines for existing stocks.

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