Resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for thiacloprid in or on certain products

The European Parliament adopted by 386 votes to 186, with 52 abstentions, a resolution objecting to the proposal for a Council regulation amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for thiacloprid in or on certain products.

As a reminder, thiacloprid is an active ingredient in insecticides mainly used on cotton, pome fruit, vegetables, and potatoes. The approval of the active substance thiacloprid expired on 3 February 2020, and was not renewed. The grace period for plant protection products containing thiacloprid expired on 3 February 2021. The approval of the active substance thiacloprid was not renewed as it could not be established with respect to one or more representative uses of at least one plant protection product that the approval criteria provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 were satisfied.

EFSA identified two critical areas of concern: (i) the first critical area of concern related to the indication of the contamination of groundwater with several relevant metabolites of thiacloprid whose carcinogenic potential could not be excluded (M30, M34 and M46) above the parametric drinking water limit of 0,1 µg/L for all the representative uses; (ii) the second critical area of concern related to the harmonised classification by ECHA of thiacloprid as presumed to damage fertility and the unborn child (toxic for reproduction category 1B) making thiacloprid a ‘cut-off substance’.

Thiacloprid is also suspected of causing cancer, being very toxic for aquatic life, and very toxic for aquatic life with long lasting effect.

Moreover, EFSA also concluded that the assessment of the risks to bees and non-target terrestrial plants could not be finalised.

In the light of these considerations, Parliament is opposed to the adoption of the proposal for a Council regulation stating that is not compatible with EU law.

Moreover, Parliament called on the Commission to:

- withdraw the proposal for a regulation;

- submit a new draft to the committee lowering all MRLs for thiacloprid to the limit of determination for all uses and to refuse any requests for import tolerances.