Recently, the European Union issued a notice Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/489 to revise the approval period for spirotetramat, spinetoram and flubendiamide.

After the revision, the approval period of the three substances is shortened to the validity period after the first approval, and no longer enjoys the 3-month extended validity period approved in the previous announcement Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2007, but this seemingly ordinary announcement is actually hidden. Mystery.

The reason for the revision of the validity period is explained in the announcement. Since no applicant has submitted a re-evaluation application for spirotetramat, spinosad, and flubendiamide before the deadline, the substances specified in Announcement No. 2020/2007 are not subject to re-evaluation. The decision to extend the validity period is no longer justified. Therefore, these substances will expire without an extension of the validity period.

This also means that spirotetramat, spinosad and flubendiamide will no longer be approved by the EU and banned after the revised approval period expires. The validity period of flubendiamide in the EU is as follows: spirotetramat April 30, 2024; spinosad June 30, 2024; flubendiamide August 31, 2024.

After expiration, the corresponding plant protection products have a sales and distribution buffer period of not more than 6 months, and an additional inventory depletion period of not more than 1 year.

1 spirotetramat

Spirotetramat is a quaternary ketoacid derivative insecticide with bidirectional systemic conductivity, which can effectively control piercing-sucking pests.

 The substance was developed by Bayer Crop. On May 1, 2014, spirotetramat was approved under the new EU Plant Protection Products Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009), with the first approval valid until April 30, 2024, and requiring members to apply for subsequent approvals. and authorization must take into account its risks to aquatic organisms, non-target arthropods in the field, and bees during application and in the subsequent environment.

2 Spinosad

Spinosad is a macrolide antibiotic insecticide used to control lepidopteran pests (Plutella xylostella, beet armyworm) and Thysanoptera pests (thrips).

Spinosad was developed by the former Dow AgroSciences Company in the United States and is an analog of spinosad. The mechanism of action is the same as that of spinosad, but its activity is 10 times that of spinosad. On July 1, 2014, spinosad was approved under the new EU Plant Protection Products Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009). The risk to insectivorous birds should be specifically considered in approvals and authorizations.

3 Flubeniliprole

Flubendiamide is a new type of phthaloyl insecticide jointly developed by German Bayer and Japan Pesticide Co., Ltd. It has good activity against almost all lepidopteran pests, and is incompatible with existing insecticides. The generation of cross-resistance is very suitable for the control of pests that are resistant to existing insecticides.

On September 1, 2014, flubendiamide was approved under the new EU Plant Protection Products Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009), with the first approval valid until August 31, 2024, and requiring members to apply for subsequent approvals. and authorization should pay special attention to its risks to aquatic invertebrates and possible residues in rotational crops.