The European Parliament adopted by 425 votes to 231, with 40 abstentions, a resolution objecting to the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1511 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 as regards the extension of the approval periods of the active substances amidosulfuron, bifenox, chlorotoluron, clofentezine, clomazone, cypermethrin, daminozide, deltamethrin, dicamba, difenoconazole, diflufenican, fenoxaprop-P, fenpropidin, fludioxonil, flufenacet, fosthiazate, indoxacarb, lenacil, MCPA, MCPB, nicosulfuron, paraffin oils, picloram, prosulfocarb, sulphur, triflusulfuron and tritosulfuron.

Parliament considered that the draft Commission implementing regulation does not respect the precautionary principle. According to Members, the decision to extend the approval period for chlorotoluron is not in line with the safety criteria laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, and is based neither on evidence that this substance can safely be used, nor on a proven urgent need for the active substance chlorotoluron in food production in the Union.

In support of its objection, Parliament stated that, according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council, chlorotoluron has a harmonised classification of very toxic to aquatic life, very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects, suspected of causing cancer, and suspected of damaging the unborn child.

Moreover, in 2015 chlorotoluron was placed on the ‘list of candidates for substitution’ by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/408 because it is considered to have endocrine-disrupting properties that may cause adverse effects in humans, and because it meets the criteria for it to be considered a persistent and toxic substance.

Members considered it is unacceptable that a substance which is known to meet the cut-off criteria for active substances that are mutagenic, carcinogenic and/or toxic for reproduction or that have endocrine-disrupting properties, which are set to protect human and environmental health, continues to be allowed for use in the Union, putting public and environmental health at risk.

Based on these considerations, Parliament called on the Commission to:

- repeal Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1511 and to submit a new draft to the committee that takes into account the scientific evidence on the harmful properties of all the substances concerned, especially of chlorotoluron;

- present only draft implementing regulations to extend the approval periods of substances for which the current state of science is not expected to lead to a Commission proposal for non-renewal of the authorisation of the active substance concerned;

- withdraw the approvals for substances if proof or reasonable doubt exists that they will not meet the safety criteria laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009;

Member States are called on to ensure the proper and timely reassessment of the authorisations for the active substances for which they are the reporting Member States, and to ensure that current delays are solved effectively as soon as possible.