EU Extends Approval Periods for 19 Active Substances Pending Renewal Reviews
20 July 2026, Belgium: The European Commission has adopted Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1421, extending the approval periods of 19 active substances used in plant protection products while their renewal applications continue to undergo scientific and regulatory assessment. The regulation was adopted on 30 June 2026 and published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 1 July 2026.
The extension covers widely used herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and plant growth regulators, including lambda-cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, tebuconazole, clethodim, fluopicolide, cymoxanil, MCPA, MCPB, metaldehyde, paclobutrazol, metsulfuron-methyl and several others.
Extension Intended to Prevent Regulatory Gaps
According to the European Commission, the approvals are being extended because the renewal evaluations under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 have not yet been completed. The Commission noted that the delays are considered to be beyond the control of the applicants, with several dossiers still requiring additional scientific assessment, public consultation, EFSA conclusions or regulatory decision-making.
The temporary extensions are intended to ensure that approvals do not expire before final renewal decisions are adopted, thereby avoiding regulatory uncertainty while maintaining the ongoing scientific review process.
Approval Periods Extended Until 2027–2029
The amended regulation establishes different expiry dates depending on the progress of each renewal assessment.
Among the revised approval dates are:
Active Substance
Previous Expiry*
New Approval Expiry
Bensulfuron
15 Aug 2026
15 Nov 2027
Benzovindiflupyr
2 Aug 2026
2 Jan 2029
Chlorotoluron
15 Aug 2026
30 Jun 2028
Clethodim
31 Aug 2026
15 Dec 2027
Cycloxydim
31 Aug 2026
31 Jan 2029
Cymoxanil
15 Aug 2026
30 Nov 2027
Dazomet
31 Aug 2026
30 Nov 2029
Deltamethrin
15 Aug 2026
30 Jun 2028
Diclofop
31 Aug 2026
31 Jan 2029
Fenazaquin
31 Aug 2026
15 Aug 2028
Fluopicolide
31 Aug 2026
31 Jan 2029
Hymexazol
31 Aug 2026
31 Jan 2029
Lambda-cyhalothrin
31 Aug 2026
31 Jan 2029
MCPA
15 Aug 2026
31 Jul 2028
MCPB
15 Aug 2026
31 Jul 2028
Metaldehyde
31 Aug 2026
15 Oct 2028
Metsulfuron-methyl
31 Aug 2026
31 Jul 2029
Paclobutrazol
31 Aug 2026
31 Jan 2029
Tebuconazole
15 Aug 2026
31 Jul 2028
*Previous expiry dates are those in force before the adoption of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1421.
Renewals Continue Under Scientific Review
The Commission explained that the length of each extension reflects the estimated time needed to complete the respective renewal procedure. Several active substances remain at different stages of assessment, including draft renewal assessment reports, EFSA peer reviews, requests for additional data, evaluation of endocrine-disrupting properties and subsequent risk management decisions by the Commission and Member States.
The regulation also notes that, where additional information is still requested from applicants, the current extension periods do not account for any further time that may be required to assess such submissions.
No Automatic Renewal
The Commission clarified that these extensions do not constitute a renewal of approval. Should a future regulation conclude that an active substance does not meet the approval criteria, its approval may still be withdrawn. Conversely, where a renewal decision is adopted, the Commission will establish the applicable renewal period under the relevant legislation.
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