Foreword
The meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF, Phytopharmaceutical – Legislation), held on 5 and 6 May 2026, has established a new regulatory landscape for some active substances. While the official summary is yet to be published, the voting results for Part B of the agenda confirm a climate of extreme technical caution, with seven out of eleven proposals deferred to future sessions. Below is an analysis of the primary outcomes.
Approvals and Amendments: The Case of Metalaxyl-M
The point of greatest interest for technical experts was B.01, regarding the amendment of the approval conditions for Metalaxyl-M, which was officially approved. One member state voted against (probably Denmark) and one member state abstained (probably Portugal). The preferences of the individual Member States within the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed are not officially disclosed, but the number of countries and the percentage of the population they represent out of the total population of the 27 Member States (Eurostat 2025 data) are published. On the basis of this limited information, it is often possible to infer which States are concerned, although such conclusions must necessarily remain speculative.
- What changes: The restriction that limited the use of treated seeds exclusively to greenhouses has been removed.
- Conditions for outdoor use: Field use (such as for spinach) is now permitted, provided that the sowing density does not exceed 2,000,000 seeds per hectare and precision drilling equipment is utilised. Higher sowing rates will require specific assessments by Member States to demonstrate the absence of unacceptable risks to birds and mammals.
The Committee also approved the administrative measure B.09, which formalises the deletion from the EU register of methoxyfenozide, penthiopyrad, and the terpenoid blend QRD 460. The approvals for these substances expired following either the non-submission or the withdrawal of renewal applications. The decision was unanimous.
Basic Substances: Rejection for Capsicum
Regarding basic substances, the outcomes were mixed:
- Capsicum oleoresin (B.03): The Committee voted for non-approval with unanimous vote. The primary concerns involve the genotoxicity of capsaicin and a lack of sufficient ecotoxicological data (specifically regarding bees and aquatic organisms), alongside unclear preparation procedures in the dossier.
- Urtica spp. (B.04): The vote on the extension of use for a “new recipe” (utilising the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae) was deferred. Doubts remain regarding the microbiological stability of the preparation and the risk of proliferation of pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella during prolonged fermentation.
The Deferrals: Pelargonic Acid and Mecoprop-P
Contrary to expectations, the votes for the renewal of pelargonic acid (B.02) and mecoprop-P (B.05) were postponed. For the hormonal herbicide mecoprop-P, the delay appears linked to unresolved critical issues identified during EFSA expert meetings.
Even more significant was the deferral of points B.06, B.07, and B.08, concerning the amendment of regulations on data requirements and Uniform Principles. This stalemate temporarily blocks the implementation of the long-awaited EFSA Bee Guidance Document, which is intended to harmonise risk assessment criteria across Member States.
Approval Periods: Partial Progress on Extensions
The management of technical extensions was split into two groups:
- Point B.10 (Approved): The extension of the approval period for 19 substances was confirmed, including deltamethrin (June 2028), tebuconazole (July 2028), and bensulfuron (November 2027). Two member states voted against (probably France and Finland). The updated expiry dates are:
- Bensulfuron: 15 November 2027
- Benzovindiflupyr: 2 January 2029
- Chlorotoluron: 30 June 2028
- Clethodim: 15 December 2027
- Cycloxydim: 31 January 2029
- Cymoxanil: 30 November 2027
- Dazomet: 30 November 2029
- Deltamethrin: 30 June 2028
- Diclofop: 31 January 2029
- Fenazaquin: 15 August 2028
- Fluopicolide: 31 January 2029
- Hymexazol: 31 January 2029
- Lambda-cyhalothrin: 31 January 2029
- MCPA: 31 July 2028
- MCPB: 31 July 2028
- Metaldehyde: 15 October 2028
- Metsulfuron-methyl: 31 July 2029
- Paclobutrazol: 31 January 2029
- Tebuconazole: 31 July 2028
- Point B.11 (Deferred): The vote for the second group—which includes molecules such as metalaxyl, clomazone, and fludioxonil—was postponed. This delay appears motivated by the need to address inconsistencies for substances like cyprodinil, pirimicarb, and pyraclostrobin, for which non-renewal proposals are already under discussion in Part C of the agenda.
Conclusions
This SCoPAFF meeting highlights a complex phase of regulatory transition. While the approval for Metalaxyl-M opens new operational opportunities in the field, the deferral of the data requirement packages suggests that the harmonisation of risk assessment criteria at the European level will require further time.
References
Direct link to the approved proposals:
B01 – COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) …/… amending Implementing Regulations (EU) 2020/617 and (EU) No 540/2011 as regards the conditions of approval of the active substance metalaxyl-M
B03 – COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) …/… concerning the non-approval of Capsicum oleoresin as a basic substance in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market
B09 – COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) …/… amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 as regards the deletion of methoxyfenozide, penthiopyrad and terpenoid blend QRD 460 from the list of active substances approved under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council
B10 – COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) …/… amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 as regards the extension of the approval periods of the active substances bensulfuron, benzovindiflupyr, chlorotoluron, clethodim, cycloxydim, cymoxanil, dazomet, deltamethrin, diclofop, fenazaquin, fluopicolide, hymexazol, lambda-cyhalothrin, MCPA, MCPB, metaldehyde, metsulfuron-methyl, paclobutrazol and tebuconazole