EU renews approval of fungicide pyraclostrobin until 2041

The European Commission has renewed the approval of the active substance pyraclostrobin, a fungicide and plant growth regulator used in plant protection products, for a further 15 years. The decision was adopted on 8 September 2026 and published in the L series of the Official Journal of the European Union on 9 September 2026, under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1976.

The renewal, granted under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 on the placing of plant protection products on the market, takes effect on 1 October 2026 and runs until 30 September 2041. It amends Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011, which lists approved active substances.

Background of the renewal procedure

Pyraclostrobin was first included as an active substance in Annex I to Council Directive 91/414/EEC by Commission Directive 2004/30/EC. Its approval was due to expire on 15 December 2026, a deadline extended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1826 to allow the renewal process to be completed.

The renewal application was submitted to Germany, the rapporteur Member State, and Hungary, the co-rapporteur Member State. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded on 29 January 2025 that plant protection products containing pyraclostrobin can be expected to meet the approval criteria, identifying no critical area of concern. The draft regulation was presented to the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed on 5 May 2026.

New conditions and impurity limits

The renewed approval is subject to specific conditions set out in Annex I to the Regulation, including maximum limits for toxicologically relevant impurities in the technical material:

• Dimethyl sulfate (DMS): maximum 0.001 g/kg
• Toluene: maximum 8 g/kg

Member States authorising pyraclostrobin-containing products must pay particular attention to the assessment of co-formulants, the protection of aquatic organisms, and the consumer risk assessment, including exposure to the metabolites 500M07 and 500M54 (for use on grapes), as well as the aquatic risk of metabolites BF 500–15 and 500M58.

The applicant must also submit confirmatory information on the effects of water treatment processes on residues of pyraclostrobin or its metabolites in surface water abstracted for drinking water production.

Impact on producers and users

The Regulation, which is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States, removes the previous restriction limiting pyraclostrobin to use as a fungicide and plant growth regulator. The substance is identified by CAS No 175013-18-0 and CIPAC No 657, with a minimum purity of 980 g/kg.

For growers and distributors of plant protection products across the EU, the renewal provides regulatory certainty for the coming 15 years, while the tightened impurity limits and risk-assessment requirements aim to safeguard human health and aquatic environments.

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, L series, 9 September 2026 (official reference: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1976, CELEX L_202601976).