The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded its peer review of the pesticide risk assessment for the active substance 8-methyldecan-2-yl propanoate, an insecticide pheromone proposed for use on maize and sweet corn, identifying missing information required under EU regulation. In a conclusion published on 31 July 2026, EFSA reported the reliable endpoints for regulatory risk assessment and listed data gaps that must be addressed before the substance can be approved under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. The peer review, conducted by EFSA's Pesticides Peer Review Unit with input from scientific experts, covers the representative uses of the substance as an insecticide (pheromone) on maize (grain and silage/forage) and sweet corn, and also considers its potential inclusion in Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, which lists active substances not requiring maximum residue levels (MRLs).
The application for approval was submitted by Lithos Crop Protect GmbH to the rapporteur Member State Austria on 25 March 2021, with the dossier deemed admissible on 17 December 2021. Austria prepared the draft assessment report (DAR), which formed the basis for EFSA's peer review. The conclusion, approved on 30 June 2026, presents the outcome of the evaluation of the substance's identity, physical and chemical properties, mammalian toxicity, residues, environmental fate and behaviour, ecotoxicology, and endocrine disruption properties. EFSA's assessment is a key step in the EU's approval process for new active substances, feeding into the European Commission's decision on whether to grant approval and set MRLs.
The peer review identified specific data gaps, though the conclusion does not detail them in the summary. These gaps are listed in the full document and are expected to be addressed by the applicant before a final regulatory decision. The substance is a pheromone-based insecticide, a category generally considered to have lower environmental impact than conventional chemical insecticides, but the assessment still requires robust data on its fate in the environment and potential effects on non-target organisms.
The conclusion will now inform the European Commission's draft review report and the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, which will decide on approval. If approved, the substance would be added to the list of approved active substances, and its inclusion in Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 would mean that no MRLs are needed for residues, simplifying trade and use for growers. However, the identified data gaps could delay the process if the applicant fails to provide the required information in a timely manner.
The impact of this conclusion is primarily on the applicant, Lithos Crop Protect GmbH, which faces potential delays and additional costs to fill the data gaps, and on EU maize and sweet corn growers, who would benefit from a new pheromone-based pest control option if approved. The substance's low-toxicity profile could offer an alternative to conventional insecticides, aligning with EU policy to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, but the regulatory hurdles remain significant. EFSA's role as the scientific arbiter ensures that any approval is based on comprehensive risk assessment, balancing agricultural needs with environmental and health protection.