Legal Updates - Restrictions on Insecticide

Regulatory Law – Insecticides – Fipronil – Restrictions  

From 31 December 2013, the proposed restrictions around the use of an insecticide called Fipronil, by the European Commission, are due to apply.

During a vote in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, the Commission’s proposal received overwhelming support, with 23 Member States backing the restrictions. The proposal comes after a scientific risk assessment was carried out by the European Food Safety Authority, which indicated that Fipronil poses an acute risk to the honey bee population in Europe.

The use of Fipronil as a seed treatment will be restricted. In particular, it will be illegal to treat maize and sunflower seeds with Fipronil.

Further details around the restrictions can be found on Europa.

For any queries on insecticides, marketing authorisations, biocidal products or other regulatory law issues, you may contact us by email [email protected]. Visit http://www.rtcoopers.com/practice_regulatory.php.

© RT COOPERS, 2013. This Briefing Note does not provide a comprehensive or complete statement of the law relating to the issues discussed nor does it constitute legal advice. It is intended only to highlight general issues. Specialist legal advice should always be sought in relation to particular circumstances.