Chemical name: Dichlobenil

Final regulatory action has been taken for the category: Pesticide

Final regulatory action: The chemical is Banned

Use or uses prohibited by the final regulatory action:

All applications as a plant protection product.

Pesticide use or uses that remain allowed:

Not relevant.

The final regulatory action was based on a risk or hazard evaluation: Yes

Summary of the final regulatory action:

It is prohibited to place on the market or use plant protection products containing dichlobenil. Dichlobenil is not included in the list of approved active substances under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market, which replaces Directive 91/414/EEC.

As of 13 April 2011 no authorisations for plant protection products containing dichlobenil are allowed to be granted or renewed by the Member States and all uses of plant protection products containing dichlobenil are prohibited.

The reasons for the final regulatory action were relevant to: Human health and environment

Summary of known hazards and risks to human health:

It was concluded that it was not demonstrated that it may be expected that plant protection products containing dichlobenil satisfy in general the requirements laid down in Article 5 (1) (a) and (b) of Directive 91/414/EEC.

The risk assessment revealed that the available data provided by the applicant were insufficient to address the nature of residues of the metabolite 2,6-dichlorobenzamide in processed commodities.

Expected effect of the final regulatory action in relation to human health:

Reduction of risk from the use of plant protection products containing dichlobenil.

Summary of known hazards and risks to the environment:

It was concluded that it was not demonstrated that it may be expected that plant protection products containing dichlobenil satisfy in general the requirements laid down in Article 5 (1) (a) and (b) of Directive 91/414/EEC.

The evaluation raised concerns mainly regarding the potential contamination of groundwater by the very persistent metabolite 2,6-dichlorobenzamide which is expected to be very high, with concentration well above 10 µg/l for all modeled scenarios. The evaluation identified a potential for long-range transport of the metabolite 2,6-dichlorobenzamide through the atmosphere. Furthermore a high acute risk to birds and a high long-term risk to earthworm-eating birds and mammals were identified from the use of dichlobenil.

Expected effect of the final regulatory action in relation to the environment:

Reduction of risk from the use of plant protection products containing dichlobenil.

Date of entry into force of the final regulatory action: 13/04/2011

Complete entry into force of all provisions of Commission Implementing Decision 2011/234/EU of 11 April 2011 is 13 April 2011.