10/01/2020 (Agence Europe) – On Friday, 10 January, the European Commission formally decided not to renew approval for chlorpyrifos in its ethyl and methyl forms in the EU, a decision that will lead to a ban on this active substance in pesticides from the spring. This plan, which allows for disposal of stocks for a maximum period of three months, was approved by experts from member states in December 2019 (see EUROPE 12385/13). The decision to end approval is based on the opinion of EFSA, which confirmed in August 2019 that chlorpyrifos, in its ethyl and methyl forms, is harmful to human health because of its potential genotoxic and neurological effects during development, especially in children (see EUROPE 12310/14). In a statement, Health and Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides “calls on Member States to withdraw products containing these substances from their markets”. (AN)