Mecoprop-P Renewed with Stricter Restrictions: What Manufacturers and Farmers Must Do in 2026

Key data

Manufacturers, distributors, and farmers working with herbicides containing mecoprop-P have new obligations as of September 2026. The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2025, published on 11 September 2026, renews the approval of this active plant protection substance, but maintains it as a candidate for substitution and tightens the conditions of use.

The key for the sector: the renewal is not a blank check. It is a conditional extension that requires action on registrations, labeling, and field protocols. Those who fail to adapt within the defined timelines risk the validity of their national authorizations.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2026/2025 renews the approval of mecoprop-P as an active substance in plant protection products, but does so with more demanding conditions than in the previous cycle. The key elements are:

• Candidate for substitution status maintained: mecoprop-P retains this classification due to its endocrine-disrupting properties and the risks it poses to aquatic organisms. This means that national authorities must prioritize alternatives when they exist.
• Limited approval period: the renewal is granted for a defined period, not indefinitely, which means the sector will face a new review in the future.
• Mandatory review of national authorizations: Member States are obliged to review the authorizations of all plant protection products containing mecoprop-P in accordance with the new conditions.
• Amendment of Regulation (EU) 540/2011: the annex of approved substances is updated to reflect the new conditions for mecoprop-P.

Economic and operational impact

For companies in the plant protection sector, this conditional renewal generates concrete operational costs in several areas:

• Adaptation of product registrations: manufacturers and distributors must update the registration files of all products containing mecoprop-P in accordance with the new conditions imposed. This involves administrative, technical, and potentially reformulation costs.
• Labeling updates: the labels of affected products must reflect the new conditions of use and risk mitigation measures. Changing labeling involves printing costs, withdrawal of old stock, and communication to the distribution chain.
• Defined timelines for compliance: the regulation establishes specific timelines for companies in the sector to adapt. Exceeding those timelines without having updated registrations and labeling may result in loss of the product's marketing authorization.
• Impact on farmers: end users must apply more demanding risk mitigation measures, especially in areas near water bodies. This may translate into application restrictions, exclusion zones, or additional protective equipment.

The status of "candidate for substitution" also has medium-term commercial implications: when alternatives are approved, national authorities can deny or not renew authorizations for products with mecoprop-P, which reduces the useful commercial life of these herbicides.

Who does it affect?

• Manufacturers of plant protection products: companies that produce or formulate herbicides with mecoprop-P as an active substance. They must adapt registrations and labeling within the defined timelines.
• Herbicide distributors: companies that market products with mecoprop-P. They must ensure that stock in circulation complies with the new labeling conditions.
• Farmers and applicators: end users who use these herbicides in their crops. They must comply with the new risk mitigation measures, with special attention to areas near water bodies.
• Competent authorities of Member States: obliged to review and, if appropriate, modify or revoke national authorizations for products containing mecoprop-P.
• Technical advisors and agricultural consultants: must update their usage recommendations to farmers in accordance with the new conditions.

Practical example

A Spanish herbicide manufacturer has a mecoprop-P product in its catalog authorized for use in cereals. Following the publication of Regulation 2026/2025, this manufacturer must:

1. Review the registration file for that product with the Ministry of Agriculture to verify whether the current authorization conditions are compatible with the new requirements of the European regulation.
2. If the conditions have changed, initiate the procedure to modify the national registration within the timelines defined by the regulation.
3. Update the product label to include the new risk mitigation measures, especially those relating to the protection of aquatic organisms and safety distances from water bodies.
4. Communicate the labeling changes to its distribution network and manage the withdrawal or replacement of stock with old labeling.

For their part, a farmer using that herbicide on plots near a river or irrigation ditch must apply the new mitigation measures indicated on the updated label: respect exclusion zones, adjust doses, or use application equipment that reduces drift toward water.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify all affected products: review the complete catalog to locate which products contain mecoprop-P as an active substance or co-formulant.
2. Consult the timelines defined in the regulation: Regulation 2026/2025 establishes specific timelines for compliance. Identifying them and transferring them to the internal work plan is the first critical step.
3. Initiate review of national registrations: contact the competent authority of the Member State to learn about the procedure for reviewing or modifying the affected national authorizations.
4. Update labeling: adapt the labels of all affected products to reflect the new conditions of use and the risk mitigation measures required, especially in aquatic environments.
5. Train technical and sales teams: ensure that teams advising farmers and distributors are aware of the new restrictions and can communicate them correctly.
6. Evaluate alternatives in the medium term: given that mecoprop-P is a candidate for substitution, it is advisable to analyze what alternative active substances are available or in the approval process, to anticipate a possible future transition.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at 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_202602025