On Tuesday 12 November, through PAN Europe, a coalition of 49 environmental and health organisations called on the European Commission and Member States to ban flufenacet immediately.
This pesticide based on eternal pollutants (PFAS) from Bayer and BASF is harmful to humans and the environment, according to the latest scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Acting as an endocrine disruptor, the herbicide affects thyroid hormones, which can have consequences for brain development. This exposes women and newborn babies to “unnecessary risks”.
Flufenacet is a PFAS that degrades to trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a major water contaminant. PAN Europe pointed out that, according to EFSA, the presence of flufenacet should not exceed the regulatory limit of 0.1 µg/l.
The NGOs suggest that the European Commission and Member States adopt “a non-renewal regulation” at the meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed in December 2024 and launch “procedures to withdraw all national authorisations for flufenacet-based products”. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)