PAN Netherlands has asked the national pesticide authority Ctgb to withdraw the authorisation of 50 pesticide formulations. They contain substances that are proven to be endocrine-disrupting or harmful to reproduction.
The request follows a recent PAN Europe court victory regarding the pesticide product Pitcher. The EU Court of Justice ruled that national authorities have to take the latest science into account. EFSA concluded in 2024 that the active ingredient of Pitcher, fludioxonil, is an endocrine disruptor. This means that the substance has to be banned under the EU pesticide law and can no longer be used in pesticide products. Next, the highest administrative court in the Netherlands ruled that the Ctgb should not have authorised Pitcher. However, there are 23 other formulations on the Dutch market containing fludioxonil. In the meantime, we found residues of fludioxonil on conventional apples and strawberries, indicating that European consumers continue to be exposed to this harmful chemical.
PAN Netherlands also asks for the withdrawal of all other products containing active substances that are known to be endocrine disruptors. The Dutch authority has its own responsibility to examine the authorisations of all these products, according to the ruling of the EU Court. In total, 50 products have been identified by PAN, containing active substances that are endocrine disruptors: fludioxonil, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, buprofezin, cyprodinil, phenmedipham, thiabendazole and tebuconazole.
PAN-NL chair Margriet Mantingh: "In the Netherlands, crops are protected with copious amounts of agricultural toxins, while our health and the natural environment are barely protected."
Endocrine-disrupting substances can be harmful even at very low concentrations. Children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable, as they can affect the development of the foetus. If the Ctgb does not revoke the authorisations, PAN Netherlands is prepared to take the matter to court again. Regulations designed to protect our health and the natural environment must be enforced.
PAN Europe applauds this step and encourages other member organisations to take similar legal actions in their country.
Read more here (In Dutch)
