Evolution of plant protection active substances in Europe: the disappearance of chemicals in favour of biocontrol agents

Abstract

With the entry into force of Regulation EC 1107/2009 and the important cut-off of a number of existing active substances from before 2011, which was processed from 342 in Annex I of Directive 91/414/EEC to 298, all these active substances are listed in Part A of Regulation EU 540/2011. Here, we have conducted a survey of all active substances since concerning their regulatory characteristics and their agricultural uses. Between 2011 and 2018, a global increase in active substances was observed with up to 502 approved, but since then an inexorable decline in the number active substances has occurred, despite numerous biocontrol agents (BCAs) being approved and only few chemicals. The newly approved active substances were then listed in Parts B, C, D and E, while renewed substances moved to Parts B to E. The impact of these changes was studied in relation to the availability of these substances and the corresponding global modifications in terms of employment, functions, uses, crops, and maximum residue limits. There has been a net loss of 53 active substances since 2018, notwithstanding 30 approvals, equates to a real loss of 95 active substances in the last 4 years and 118 since 2011. The main reduction of active substances is not only due to a falling-off of chemicals (95) but also a significant decay of BCA (19) impacting crop protection with an important reduction of the herbicides and a small increase of fungicides with an high replacement rate, with all crops being impacted, while the residue situation has greatly improved.

Keywords: Active substance; Biocontrol agents, chemicals; Regulation EC 1107/2009; Regulation EC 540/2011.