Aragón suspends the herbicide prosulfocarb in cereals across nine regions

The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food of the Government of Aragon temporarily suspends the application of plant protection products containing the active substance prosulfocarb in cereal crops between October 1 and December 1, 2026, in nine regions (comarcas). The decision is formalized through Order AGA/1358/2026, dated September 8, published in the Official Gazette of Aragon (Boletín Oficial de Aragón) number 184, dated September 22, 2026, within section III of other provisions and agreements (official reference BOA20260922014). The origin of the restriction is the cross-contamination detected in olives, a crop for which prosulfocarb is not authorized.

Cross-contamination in olive and cereal areas

As stated in the order itself, in recent years, during the execution of official control plans, the presence of prosulfocarb has been detected in olives. It was established that the use of this active substance is widespread in cereal-growing areas, where olive plantations coexist with cereal crops; when treated with these products, they can cause cross-contamination of the olive groves during the harvest season.

The regulation is supported by Article 32.2 of Law 43/2002, of November 20, on plant health, which allows autonomous communities to propose restrictions when there are grounded reasons of risk, and by Royal Decree 1311/2012, of September 14, on the sustainable use of plant protection products. The order was signed in Zaragoza on September 8, 2026, by the counselor Aránzazu Simón Pérez.

Suspension in nine regions and safety distances

The temporary suspension affects the following regions:

• Bajo Aragón
• Bajo Aragón-Caspe/Baix Aragó-Casp
• Campo de Borja
• Cinco Villas
• Hoya de Huesca/Plana de Uesca
• Matarraña/Matarranya
• Monegros
• Somontano de Barbastro
• Tarazona y el Moncayo

In the remaining cereal-producing regions, and during the same dates, the application of prosulfocarb must maintain a minimum safety distance of 150 meters from unharvested olive plantations. If the olive plots are certified or in conversion to organic farming, the distance increases to 200 meters.

Technical application conditions and recommendations

The following limitations must be respected during application:

• Adjust the height of the equipment boom to 50 centimeters from the treated crop.
• Do not exceed a forward speed of 6 km/h.
• Do not apply at temperatures above 25 degrees and humidity below 40%.
• Apply only with wind speeds below 10 km/h and never if the wind is blowing toward the sensitive area.
• Use only drift-reduction nozzles between 90% and 95%.

Additionally, the order recommends calibrating the equipment and checking the nozzles before each campaign, seeking alternative herbicides to prosulfocarb and, as far as possible, carrying out late cereal sowing and waiting for the olive harvest to treat plots adjacent to olive groves.

Control plan, sanctions, and entry into force

The Directorate General for Food Quality and Safety will develop a specific control plan for products formulated with prosulfocarb, while the Plant Health and Certification Center will carry out documentary controls and field inspections. These actions will include taking samples for residue analysis in cereal plots with restricted use or in olive plots near cereals, as well as the control of farm records.

Non-compliance will be classified and sanctioned in accordance with Title IV of Law 43/2002, of November 20, on plant health, and may lead to penalties in the Common Agricultural Policy subsidies. The order shall apply from the day following its publication, that is, from September 23, 2026. An optional appeal for reversal may be filed before the counselor within one month, or a contentious-administrative appeal within two months.

The restriction directly affects farmers in cereal-growing areas with the presence of olive groves, who see one of their usual weed control tools limited just at the start of the sowing campaign. The regulation remains in force until the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food reviews the conditions of use for prosulfocarb or the formulation of these products is modified to guarantee the absence of residues.

Source: Official Gazette of Aragon, number 184, of September 22, 2026, section III (Other Provisions and Agreements) (official reference: BOA20260922014).