In November 2024, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released its peer review on fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, a common post-emergence herbicide used in crops like wheat, barley, and rye. This comprehensive assessment, part of the EU’s regulatory framework, highlights critical concerns about its safety for human health and the environment.

Key Insights from EFSA’s Review

Human Health Risks

EFSA has identified fenoxaprop-P-ethyl as an endocrine disruptor affecting the androgen pathway. This classification poses significant implications for its continued use in agricultural practices.

Unresolved Consumer Risk Assessments

• Residues in Food and Feed: The consumer risk assessment for fenoxaprop-P-ethyl remains incomplete due to insufficient data on residue definitions for rotational crops and livestock feed. Questions around the genotoxicity of key metabolites further complicate the evaluation.
• Drinking Water Safety: A gap in data regarding the effects of water treatment processes on residues in drinking water prevents the finalization of consumer risk assessments for water safety.

Environmental Risks Regulatory and Industry Impact

• Aquatic Organisms: High risks were identified for aquatic ecosystems due to insufficient toxicity data and exposure assessments for key metabolites.
• Non-target Arthropods: In-field risks for non-target arthropods were also highlighted, further limiting the safe application of this herbicide.

Source: EFSA

Regulatory and Industry Impact

Fenoxaprop-P-ethyl’s approval is under review following the process outlined in Regulation (EU) No 1107/2009. Despite its efficacy in controlling monocotyledonous weeds in cereal crops, unresolved toxicological and ecotoxicological issues raise concerns about its continued approval.

What This Means for Stakeholders

These findings may prompt stricter regulatory controls and could influence the market dynamics of herbicide products. Manufacturers and agricultural stakeholders are advised to closely monitor developments and ensure compliance with evolving safety standards.

About Fenoxaprop-P-ethyl

Fenoxaprop-P-ethyl is a widely used post-emergence herbicide valued for its effectiveness against annual grass weeds. However, the EFSA’s latest findings underline the importance of balancing agricultural benefits with human and environmental safety.

For further information on regulatory compliance and market access for pesticides, reach out to our experts at REACH24H.