Latest pesticide approvals, renewals, and extensions 2026

Commission Implementing Regulations 2026/312, 2026/321, 2026/351, 2026/355, 2026/372, 2026/870, 2026/1353, 2026/1421, 2026/1696, 2026/1826, 2026/1968, 2026/1976, 2026/2025

Update

This report summarises new and renewed approvals to date in 2026. It also lists extensions of European Union (EU) approval periods in 2026 (Table 1), and changes in conditions of use.

What is changing?

Approvals and renewals

In September 2026, the EU renewed its approvals of:

• phosphine until 30 September 2041
• pyraclostrobin until 30 September 2041
• mecoprop-P as a candidate for substitution until 30 September 2033.

In July 2026, the EU renewed its approval of pelargonic acid until 30 September 2041.

In April 2026, the EU renewed its approval of paraffin oil (CAS 8042-47-5) until 30 June 2041.

In February 2026, the EU renewed its approval of:

• maltodextrin (as a low-risk substance) until 3 March 2041
• spinosad until 1 April 2041
• pyrimethanil until 30 April 2041.

Amendments to conditions of approval

In June 2026, the EU amended the conditions of use for metalaxyl-M as follows:

• The restriction limiting treated seeds to use in greenhouses is removed. Treated seeds may now be sown outdoors, provided that precision drilling equipment is used and sowing densities are appropriately restricted. A maximum sowing rate of 2 million seeds per hectare applies unless a risk assessment demonstrates that a higher rate is safe for birds and mammals.
• The maximum level for the impurity CGA226048 (a metabolite and manufacturing impurity of metalaxyl-M) is increased from 0.18 to 10 g/kg.

In February 2026, the EU amended the conditions of use for maleic hydrazide:

• the requirement to indicate on the label of treated crops that they had been treated with this substance is now removed
• the restriction that this substance may not be used on crops intended to be fed to livestock is now removed.

Extensions and amendments

Since the start of 2026, the EU has extended the approval periods of the substances listed in Table 1 .

Timeline

A comprehensive list of active substances, their legal status, and expiry dates can be found in the European Commission’s Active substances, safeners and synergists database.

Recommended Actions

Suppliers to the EU market should monitor developments in EU approvals when considering longer-term strategies on agricultural practices.

Background

Approvals

A plant protection product or pesticide contains one or several active substances. Active substances must meet the established approval criteria (Regulation 1107/2009, Art. 4), which include no harmful effects on human health or the environment.

Depending on their characteristics, some active substances can be approved as low-risk substances that fulfil certain criteria (Regulation 1107/2009, Annex II(5)). Low-risk substances are approved for 15 years instead of the standard 10 years, and enjoy more favourable data protection (13 years). Authorisation procedures are generally also shorter.

In 2026 the European Commission proposed to remove its standard requirement to re-evaluate pesticides every 10 years (see Simplification of rules on pesticide MRLs and approvals).

Approval renewals

The Commission has established a series of work programmes to manage the renewal process. The latest work programme, Active Ingredient Renewal Programme 6 (AIR 6), covers substances with approvals expiring between 31 March 2025 and 27 December 2028. Each substance is allocated to an EU Member State for evaluation.

For active substances with approval periods that end on/after 27 March 2024, the renewal rules laid down in Regulation 2020/1740 apply.

If no application is received for an extension to the approval period, the initial expiry date will remain.

Extension of approvals

If an application for renewal cannot be fully evaluated before the expiry date, the approval period can be extended to allow the evaluation to be completed.

Resources

Sources