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EU approval expires for three key PPP – flubendiamide, spinetoram and spirotetramat - April 2022

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Key points

The European Commission (EC) has recently issued notification of changes to 10 plant protection product (PPP) approvals within the European Union (EU), some of which are important for ACP horticulture. These include:

  • Non-renewal of flubendiamide, spinetoram and spirotetramat
  • Notification to the WTO of its intention to renew the approval of bifenzate

How will ACP producers/exporters be affected?

Flubendiamide, spinetoram and spirotetramat approvals will expire in 2024, after which time they can no longer be used in EU countries. At the same time the EU maximum residue levels (MRLs) are likely to be reduced to the limit of determination (LoD) which, in most cases, will mean that they can no longer be used on crops for export to the EU.

What should ACP producers/exporters do now?

If you currently use flubendiamide, spinetoram or spirotetramat on crops destined for the EU market, you need to start looking for alternatives as soon as possible. If this is likely to cause you significant problems, and you fear being left without effective and available alternatives, please contact COLEACP at: network@coleacp.org. We will keep you informed as more information becomes available.

In this Flash Info, ‘key active substances’ refers to those used/registered in one or more ACP countries on horticultural crops that are frequently exported regionally or internationally. While COLEACP makes every effort to provide comprehensive information about EU PPP regulatory changes, it is possible that some PPPs or crops relevant to you are not included in our list of key substances/crops. We recommend that you review the following section, which gives details on all changes in 2022, to check for any others that could affect you. If you see any PPP that you use on crops for export to the EU in the lists below, we recommend that you check the regulation itself using the link provided.

Flubendiamide, L-ascorbic acid, spinetoram and spirotetramat – approval expires in 2024

The European Commission (EC) has published Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/489 regarding the approval periods of the active substances flubendiamide, L-ascorbic acid, spinetoram and spirotetramat. As no applications for renewal of approval were submitted by the manufacturers, the approvals of these substances will expire on the following dates:

  • flubendiamide: approval expires on 31 August 2024;
  • spinetoram: approval expires on 30 June 2024;
  • spirotetramat: approval expires on 30 April 2024;
  • L-ascorbic acid: approval expires on 30 June 2024.

Flubendiamide, spineroram and spirotetramat are particularly important products for ACP horticulture.

Flubendiamide is a broad spectrum insecticide used in wide range of annual and perennial crops. Pests controlled include in particular various Lepidopterous spp. including armyworms, corn borers, cutworms, diamondback moths and loopers.

Spinetoram has activity against a wide range of common insect pests including in particular codling moth, oriental fruit moth and western flower thrip.

Spirotetramat is an insecticide used to control a wide range of sucking insects on crops such as fruit and potatoes. Pests controlled include scale insects, aphids, mealybugs, mites, whiteflies psyllids, thrips spider mites and leafhoppers. It is expected that the EC will lower the MRLs of these substances at the end of the grace period. However, no information has yet been published by the EC. We will issue updated information as soon as it becomes available.

Phosmet – approval expired in 2022

Phosmet is an insecticide and acaricide used to control lepidopterous larvae, aphids and other pests (e.g. aphids, mites, fruit flies, codling moth).

On 25 January 2022 the EC published Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/94, setting the date for the expiration of approval of phosmet in the EU to 1 February 2022.

It is expected that the EC will lower the MRLs of this substance at the end of the grace period (1 November 2022). However, no information has been published by the EC yet. Updated information will be issued as soon as it becomes available.

Purpureocillium lilacinum strain PL11 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain IT-45 - approved

Purpureocillium lilacinum strain PL11 is a naturally occurring fungus that may be used to control root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita). Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain IT-45 is a naturally occurring fungus used as a microbial disease control agent.

Both have been approved as low-risk substances.

Purpureocillium lilacinum strain 251, Metarhizium brunneum strain Ma 43 and carbon dioxide – approval renewed

Purpureocillium lilacinum strain 251 is a soil fungus used to control plant parasitic nematodes in a range of field and protected crops. Pests controlled include root knot, root lesion and potato cyst nematodes. Metarhizium brunneum strain Ma 43 (formerly Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae strain BIPESCO 5/F52) is a commonly occurring deuteromycetous fungal biopesticide effective against a range of coleopteran insects. Carbon dioxide is a commodity gaseous substance used for the control of trapped rodents and other vertebrates as well as insects. Approval has been renewed for these three PPPs.

All PPP approval changes introduced in 2022

Table 1 shows all changes to PPP approvals introduced in Commission Implementing Regulations since the start of 2022. If you require additional information, or face particular problems as a result of these changes, please contact COLEACP at: network@coleacp.org.

Further proposed approval change

Table 2 presents WTO notifications of a Draft Commission Regulation that contains some active substance approvals with a potential impact on ACP horticulture products.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT) notifications advise that an active ingredient is subject to a proposed non-renewal or modification of condition of approval for use in the EU (usually linked to human or environmental risks). This is not necessarily indicative of the final EU decision, as further Committee work is done by the EC and EU Member States after notification, which can change the proposal.

The draft regulation should be notified to the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade Information Management System (TBT IMS) for a commenting period of 60 days.

The publication of the definitive regulation may take a significant period of time after the WTO consultation has been completed. However, this is an opportunity to become informed in advance on foreseen regulation changes and ensure a smooth transition when the new text comes into force (early preparation). It is also the opportunity to submit concerns on potential difficulties (trade barriers) related to the proposed changes. For WTO member countries, comments can be submitted via their National Notification Authority.

This monitoring was carried out within under the Fit For Market SPS programme. Fit For Market SPS is a COLEACP programme, funded by the European Union within the framework of development cooperation with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).