Terrestrial Toxicity

Japan Publishes Chemical Substance Management Action Plan for Nature-Positive Ver.1.0

Japan has launched its first 'Nature-Positive' Chemical Substance Management Action Plan, integrating biodiversity protection into national chemical risk assessment and regulatory frameworks. This signals a strategic shift toward life-cycle ecosystem impact assessments and likely future revisions to the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL).

3 Apr 2026, 09:56env.go.jpJapan

Italy: Autonomous Province of Bolzano Bans Bee-Harmful Pesticides During Flowering for Apple Varieties

The Autonomous Province of Bolzano has implemented a ban on 15 bee-harmful active substances in plant protection products during the flowering of specific apple varieties, effective March 25, 2026. Agricultural operators must adjust pest management schedules and substance selection to ensure compliance with localized pollinator protection mandates and seasonal application windows.

31 Mar 2026, 19:38agricoltura.provincia.bz.itItaly

France: Versailles Appeals Court Annuls Kyléo Glyphosate/2,4‑D Herbicide Marketing Authorisation

The Versailles Administrative Court of Appeal has annulled the marketing authorisation renewal for the herbicide Kyléo (glyphosate + 2,4-D), citing insufficient assessment of biodiversity risks. This ruling reinforces that French authorities must explicitly evaluate impacts on non-target species for glyphosate products, even in the absence of harmonised EU assessment methods, increasing litigation risk for existing approvals.

29 Mar 2026, 19:28legifrance.gouv.frFranceEuropean Union

New York Assembly Bill A10750 Would Restrict Anticoagulant Rodenticide Sales and Use Near Wildlife Habitats

New York introduced the RAPTORS Act in March 2026, proposing strict sale and use restrictions on first- and second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. If enacted, companies must transition to professional-only distribution models and comply with 500-foot exclusion zones around wildlife habitats, increasing operational complexity for pest management.

29 Mar 2026, 18:59assembly.state.ny.usUnited States

Netherlands: PAN Netherlands Objects To Ctgb Extension Of Gazelle (Acetamiprid) Authorisation To 2034

PAN Netherlands has formally challenged the Dutch regulator's (Ctgb) decision to extend the authorization of the insecticide Gazelle (acetamiprid) through 2034. This legal action increases the risk of market withdrawal or significantly restricted use conditions for acetamiprid-based products if the regulator is forced to re-evaluate based on newer pollinator safety data.

29 Mar 2026, 17:39pan-netherlands.orgNetherlandsEuropean Union

Canada Grants CEPA Waivers of Information Requirements for Certain Living Organism Notifications

Canada has granted information waivers to 15 companies for new living organism notifications, exempting them from specific ecotoxicity and pathogenicity testing. This reflects the continued use of regulatory flexibility to streamline market access for biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovations under CEPA.

29 Mar 2026, 17:38gazette.gc.caCanada

EFSA Develops B‑risk Biocides Web Application for Bee Risk Assessment

EFSA has launched the "B-risk Biocides" web application to standardize risk assessments for bees exposed to biocidal products. This tool signals a move toward more rigorous, data-driven pollinator safety evaluations, potentially raising the bar for future biocide approvals and product registrations in the EU.

27 Mar 2026, 18:40efsa.europa.euEuropean Union

Japan Publishes Amendment To Pesticide Registration Standards For Terrestrial Organisms

Japan has updated its pesticide registration standards, introducing new assessment pathways for wild bees and revised environmental benchmark values effective March 24, 2026. Registrants must review environmental risk dossiers to ensure compliance with tightened limits and the clarified colony-level impact assessment options for terrestrial organisms.

27 Mar 2026, 16:19kanpo.go.jpJapan

Autonomous Province of Bolzano Bans Bee‑Harmful Pesticides During Flowering of Fruit Trees Up to 500 m a.s.l.

The Autonomous Province of Bolzano has banned the use of bee-harmful pesticides during the flowering of fruit trees below 500m, effective late March 2026. Agricultural operators must transition to bee-safe alternatives or adjust application timing, signaling increased regional regulatory pressure on chemical use to meet biodiversity and pollinator protection goals.

27 Mar 2026, 07:48agricoltura.provincia.bz.itItaly

Germany (BVL) Updates Regionalised Kleinstrukturanteile Directory For Plant Protection Products

Germany's BVL has finalized the 2026 update to the 'Kleinstrukturanteile' directory, reclassifying municipal landscape structures for plant protection product application. Companies must verify municipality-specific classifications as reclassifications may trigger stricter environmental mitigation requirements or relax use restrictions for authorized products.

26 Mar 2026, 19:23bvl.bund.deGermany

Japan MAFF Consults On Draft Honeybee Impact Assessment for 2,4-D (Isopropylamine and Dimethylamine Salts)

Japan’s MAFF is consulting on a draft honeybee impact assessment for 2,4-D herbicide salts through April 21, 2026. This assessment signals potential future use restrictions or label changes for 2,4-D formulations to address pollinator protection requirements.

26 Mar 2026, 11:30public-comment.e-gov.go.jpJapan

EU Commission Confirms Soil Contaminant List and EFSA Review Under Soil Monitoring Law

The European Commission has confirmed the development of an indicative EU soil contaminant list and updated EFSA ecotoxicology risk assessment methodologies under the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive. These initiatives will likely tighten monitoring requirements for pesticides and metabolites, influencing future substance approvals and soil health compliance strategies across the EU.

24 Mar 2026, 13:00europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

Northern Zone Updates Higher-Tier Birds And Mammals Risk Assessment Guidance (Version 2.2, March 2026)

Northern Zone regulators implemented Version 2.2 of the higher-tier birds and mammals risk assessment guidance in March 2026, aligning regional requirements with the EFSA 2023 framework. Applicants for plant protection products must adopt updated residue parameters and focal species scenarios to ensure successful core zonal evaluations and market access across Northern Europe.

24 Mar 2026, 12:47kemi.seSwedenDenmarkEstoniaFinlandLatviaLithuaniaNorwayEuropean Union

New Zealand EPA Updates Clopyralid Controls To Prevent Compost Contamination

New Zealand has harmonized controls for clopyralid herbicides, mandating workplace-only sales and strict compost-management labeling by March 2026. Businesses must update product labels and supply chain protocols to mitigate contamination risks and ensure compliance with restricted-use requirements.

12 Mar 2026, 14:03epa.govt.nzNew Zealand

California DPR Announces Ongoing Ecosystem Monitoring Research Funding

California's Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has established permanent funding for ecosystem monitoring research to track pesticide movement and environmental impacts. This shift toward continuous data collection signals more rigorous, evidence-based registration reviews and potential new restrictions based on real-world ecological risk assessments.

12 Mar 2026, 13:46cdpr.ca.govUnited States

Switzerland Issues General Order on Temporary Import of Flupyradifurone-Treated Sugar Beet Seed

Switzerland has granted a temporary authorization for the import of flupyradifurone-treated sugar beet seed effective through June 30, 2026. Importers and agricultural users must implement specific labeling and mandatory PPE protocols, including FFP2 respirators, to comply with the updated safety and environmental conditions.

12 Mar 2026, 11:07fedlex.data.admin.chSwitzerland

EFSA Publishes Updated EU Pesticide Risk Assessment and Endocrine-Disruptor Conclusion for Clodinafop

EFSA published an updated risk assessment for the herbicide clodinafop in March 2026, clearing the substance of human endocrine-disrupting concerns. Unresolved environmental risks and dietary data gaps suggest that future market renewal may come with significant application restrictions or enhanced mitigation mandates.

12 Mar 2026, 09:50efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.comEuropean Union

EFSA Publishes Follow-up Opinion on Environmental Safety of Narasin (Monteban® G100) for Chickens for Fattening

EFSA’s FEEDAP Panel issued a positive environmental safety opinion for the feed additive narasin in February 2026, reversing previous concerns. This finding clears a major regulatory hurdle for the re-authorisation of Monteban® G100, providing market certainty for manufacturers and users.

4 Mar 2026, 15:49efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.comEuropean Union

EU EFSA Concludes Environmental Safety of Diclazuril (Clinacox® 0.5%) Feed Additive for Chickens

EFSA has confirmed the environmental safety of the feed additive diclazuril (Clinacox® 0.5%) for chickens, resolving previous data gaps as of February 2026. This positive assessment removes a key regulatory barrier, supporting the continued authorization and market access for this coccidiostat in the EU animal nutrition sector.

2 Mar 2026, 15:40efsa.europa.euEuropean Union

Germany BVL Updates Naturhaushalt Guidance and Publishes Greenhouse Risk Mitigation Scheme

Germany’s BVL has updated its environmental guidance for plant protection products, introducing a formal risk mitigation scheme for professional greenhouse uses effective December 2025. Applicants must align dossiers with specific German exposure models and the new "Vergabeschema" to ensure successful national authorisation and compliance with application condition codes.

2 Mar 2026, 13:52bvl.bund.deGermanyEuropean Union