Key data
| Regulation | Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1826 of 28 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Modified regulation | Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 |
| Publication | 29 July 2026 |
| Entry into force | 28 July 2026 |
| Affected substances | 21 active plant protection substances |
| Affected parties | Plant protection product manufacturers, agricultural distributors and farmers |
| Category | Agriculture and Fisheries |
| Year | 2026 |
Manufacturers and distributors of plant protection products containing any of the 21 active substances listed in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1826 can continue marketing their products without immediate changes. The European Commission has extended the approvals to avoid a legal vacuum that would have prevented the sale and use of these products while the renewal files continue their processing.
The regulation modifies the Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011, which is the central register of active substances approved in the EU. Without this extension, the authorizations would have expired before their respective renewal processes were completed. This would have forced affected products to be withdrawn from the market immediately, with consequent impact on the agricultural supply chain.
What does this regulation establish?
The regulation extends the approval periods of 21 active plant protection substances classified into three major functional groups. Below are all the affected substances:
| Active substance | Type |
|---|---|
| Cyprodinil | Fungicide |
| Fludioxonil | Fungicide |
| Pyraclostrobin | Fungicide |
| Isofetamide | Fungicide |
| Penconazole | Fungicide |
| Fosetyl | Fungicide |
| Metalaxyl | Fungicide |
| Clomazone | Herbicide |
| Metazachlor | Herbicide |
| Dimetachlor | Herbicide |
| Dichlorprop-P | Herbicide |
| Phenmedipham | Herbicide |
| Daminozide | Growth regulator |
| Pirimicarb | Insecticide |
| Formetanate | Insecticide/Acaricide |
| Cyantraniliprole | Insecticide |
| Aclonifen | Herbicide |
| Amisulbrom | Fungicide |
| Beflubutamida | Herbicide |
| Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, strain MBI 600 | Biocontrol (biological fungicide) |
| S-abscisic acid | Growth regulator |
The extension does not mean that these substances have passed a new safety assessment. It means that the Commission has decided to maintain their authorization in force while the renewal files complete their processing before the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and Member States.
Economic and operational impact
The immediate impact for companies is positive and one of continuity: there are no additional costs or urgent operational changes directly resulting from this extension. The economic risk is prospective.
- No sales interruption: Manufacturers and distributors can continue marketing products containing these 21 substances with their current authorizations.
- No changes to formulations: There is no requirement to reformulate products or withdraw stock from the market.
- Future risk from restrictions: After the final review of each substance, the Commission could impose stricter conditions of use, limit applications or, in the worst case, not renew the approval. This would require reformulating products or seeking alternatives.
- Monitoring cost: Companies must actively follow the renewal schedule of each substance to anticipate possible changes in their product portfolio.
Who does it affect?
- Manufacturers of plant protection products that include any of the 21 extended substances in their formulation: can maintain their product registrations without immediate modifications.
- Agricultural distributors that market these products: there are no sales restrictions during the transitional period.
- Farmers and agricultural holdings that use fungicides, herbicides or insecticides based on these substances: access to products is not interrupted.
- Technical advisors and agricultural consultants who recommend plant protection treatments: must inform their clients about the transitional nature of these authorizations.
- R&D and regulatory departments of companies in the sector: must monitor renewal files before EFSA to anticipate changes.
Practical example
A fungicide manufacturing company has three registered products in its catalog containing cyprodinil, fludioxonil and pyraclostrobin respectively, three of the substances included in this extension.
Without Regulation 2026/1826, the authorizations for these substances would have expired before their respective renewal processes were completed. This would have forced the company to withdraw those three products from the market immediately, with consequent impact on sales, distributor contracts and agricultural campaign planning.
Thanks to the extension, the company can continue manufacturing and selling these products normally. However, its regulatory department must now conduct individual monitoring of each renewal file, as the final resolution date varies by substance and could bring stricter conditions of use that affect labels, authorized doses or permitted crops.
What should companies do now?
- Verify which products in their portfolio contain any of the 21 extended substances and confirm that national product authorizations remain valid under the umbrella of this European extension.
- Map the final renewal schedule of each active substance relevant to their business, consulting the open files at EFSA and the processing status at the European Commission.
- Alert the R&D department about substances with the highest risk of restriction after renewal (especially herbicides like metazachlor or insecticides like formetanate, historically under greater regulatory scrutiny).
- Communicate to the distribution network that there are no current sales restrictions, avoiding unnecessary order cancellations due to regulatory alarm.
- Prepare contingency plans for key substances: identify alternative formulations or substitutes in case the final renewal imposes unmanageable conditions.
Frequently asked questions
What active substances are extended by Regulation 2026/1826?
The regulation extends 21 substances: aclonifen, amisulbrom, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain MBI 600, beflubutamida, clomazone, cyantraniliprole, cyprodinil, daminozide, dichlorprop-P, dimetachlor, fludioxonil, formetanate, fosetyl, isofetamide, metalaxyl, metazachlor, penconazole, phenmedipham, pirimicarb, pyraclostrobin and S-abscisic acid. They include fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and growth regulators.
Why does the EU extend these authorizations instead of renewing them definitively?
Because the renewal processes are ongoing but not yet completed. The extension avoids a legal vacuum: without it, the substances would be left without valid authorization before the Commission can issue a final decision, which would prevent their commercialization and use.
Can farmers continue using products with these substances?
Yes. During the extension period, farmers will not see their access to these products interrupted. The national authorizations of plant protection products containing them remain valid for the duration of the extension.
What happens when the extension ends and the final renewal is resolved?
After the complete review, the Commission may renew the approval without changes, renew it with more restrictive conditions of use (doses, crops, protective equipment) or not renew it. In the latter case, products containing that substance should be withdrawn from the market within the established timeframes.
What regulation does Regulation 2026/1826 modify and when did it enter into force?
It modifies Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011, which is the central register of active substances approved in the EU. It entered into force on 28 July 2026 and was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 29 July 2026.
Official source
Consult the complete regulation in official source
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601826