Pesticide active substances
Active substances are the key ingredients in a pesticide Substance used to kill or control pests, including disease-carrying organisms and undesirable insects, animals and plants that enable it to do its job.
Pesticides – or plant protection products – contain at least one active substance. These substances can be chemicals or micro-organisms, including viruses.
EFSA's role
Before an active substance can be used within a plant protection product in the EU, it must be approved by the European Commission, following a safety assessment.
Together with EU Member States, EFSA assesses whether an active substance, when used correctly, is likely to have any direct or indirect harmful effects on human health or the environment.
This includes assessing potential endocrine disruptors.
Together with EU Member States, we peer review draft assessments carried out by one or more Member State assessment bodies.
To do this, our scientists follow procedures set out in EU legislation and apply the latest scientific standards and methods.
Based on our conclusions, the European Commission and Member States decide whether the active substance meets European safety requirements.
Active substances are generally approved for a period of 10 years, after which it is possible for an applicant to apply for renewal.
Milestones
2025
September
EFSA publishes a statement on its considerations on the testing strategy and time schedule proposed by the applicant to assess additional data on the endocrine disrupting properties and developmental neurotoxicity Any adverse effect on the nervous system (e.g. paralysis or loss of function) that results from exposure to potentially toxic substances of acetamiprid.
EFSA publishes a repository of data on co-formulants present in plant protection products, and a reference guide for using the repository.
January
EFSA, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), supported by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), publish a joint inter-agency report on the impact of the use of azole fungicides, other than as human medicines, on the development of azole-resistant Aspergillus spp.
2020
EFSA publishes the results of its two pilot assessments on the risks posed to humans by residues of multiple pesticides in food.
2018
June
EFSA and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) publish guidance on how to identify substances with endocrine disrupting properties in pesticides and biocides.
February
EFSA publishes updated risk assessments of the neonicotinoids clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam.
2013
January
EFSA publishes risk assessments of the neonicotinoids clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam.