Press releases

PAN Europe is calling out the European Commission for its inaction on PFAS pesticides. These substances break down into trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a highly persistent, mobile and toxic degradation product. TFA has been detected above legal limits in groundwater across Europe. PAN Europe argues that the Commission is failing to meet its legal obligations under EU law to protect groundwater and public health.

The EU has banned the PFAS pesticide flufenacet because it’s harmful to human health and contaminates groundwater with its breakdown PFAS product, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a smaller but still toxic “forever chemical”. Yet, this dangerous pesticide will continue to be used on Europe’s crop fields for up to 18 months, according to the official EU decision. This is the maximum ‘grace’ period possible according to the EU Pesticides law, provided only for pesticides that are banned for reasons other than health or environmental protection.

Where the world is on fire with various wars, the EU is continuing an invisible chemical war, exporting tonnes of banned, toxic pesticides to all corners of the world. Today, the “End Toxic Pesticide Trade Coalition” (1) demands to EC President Ursula von der Leyen, alongside more than 600 organisations, to keep its 2020 promise and put an end to the EU production, export and residue imports of those banned pesticides. 

Long-term exposure to glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides causes cancer in laboratory animals at doses deemed “safe” by EU authorities, according to a new landmark publication. Despite early warnings shared with EU authorities in 2023, this critical evidence was ignored during glyphosate’s reapproval process, resulting in its reapproval for another ten years. PAN Europe warns these findings directly contradict EU risk assessors’ conclusions and raise serious concerns about the adequacy of current safety standards and compliance with EU law.

Today, the Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the EU concluded that the European Commission acted unlawfully by re-approving the pesticide cypermethrin with major toxicity data gaps in the reapproval dossier, by relying on non-validated and unrealistic risk mitigation measures, and by disregarding toxicity to insects. The Advocate General agrees with many arguments put forward by PAN Europe in this appeal case against the EU re-approval of cypermethrin, a highly toxic insecticide. [1]

Today’s ‘Water Resilience Strategy’ by the European Commission makes bold claims but offers little ambition in protecting water resources from one of its most persistent threats: pesticide pollution. Rather than tackling pollution at its source, it leans heavily on downstream "clean-up" technologies that still need to be developed. Even more concerning is the lack of support for existing legislation aiming to transition Europe towards a farming model that does not rely on pesticides.

PAN Europe and Global 2000 call for an immediate ban of PFAS pesticides 

PAN Europe welcomes ECHA’s publication of the German proposal to classify TFA as toxic to reproduction. The substance is a breakdown product of PFAS pesticides. We urge the EU to take immediate action by banning PFAS pesticides, a key source of pollution in water and food with this forever chemical.

EU Member States approved the renewal of 8-hydroxyquinoline (quinolin-8-ol), a pesticide classified as toxic for reproduction. The substance, known to affect healthy pregnancies and be toxic to children's development, was renewed for seven years as a candidate for substitution by using an exceptional ‘negligible exposure’ clause. Instead of banning it, Member States approved its use in permanent greenhouses for ‘drip irrigation’. PAN Europe strongly condemns this decision. 

Acetamiprid is a neonicotinoid insecticide that is massively used in the EU as an agricultural pesticide and as a biocide. New scientific evidence shows that it presents a risk of developmental neurotoxicity, thus potentially harming fetuses. Générations Futures and PAN Europe sent a letter to DG Sante, presenting 16 new scientific publications pointing to problems, including neurotoxicity to humans. Publications also confirm the risk posed by this insecticide to wild pollinators and birds.