The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published an external scientific report that collects data on indicators of reproductive toxicity from pesticides and establishes cumulative assessment groups (CAGs) to support cumulative risk assessment (CRA) for effects on reproductive function, including fertility. The report, published on 24 June 2026, derives a lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) for the most sensitive indicator of each specific effect for 46 prioritised pesticide active substances and five metabolites. All six originally defined specific effects were populated into CAGs: altered male mating performance, altered female mating performance, decreased male fertility, decreased female fertility, altered gestation, and altered parturition. The report applies a methodology previously developed by EFSA for identifying specific effects on reproductive function and provides a comprehensive hazard characterisation of the substances, while highlighting uncertainties in the allocation of substances to different CAGs.
The report is part of EFSA's ongoing work to develop cumulative risk assessment for pesticide residues, following earlier reports on effects on the liver, kidneys, and thyroid. The findings will inform future regulatory decisions on pesticide approvals and maximum residue limits, potentially impacting pesticide producers who may face stricter restrictions if cumulative risks are deemed unacceptable. Consumers stand to benefit from improved protection against combined exposure to multiple pesticides affecting reproductive health. National authorities in EU member states will use the CAGs to refine their own risk assessments, while the agricultural sector may face reduced availability of certain pesticides if cumulative risks lead to tighter regulations. The report does not itself set new limits but provides the scientific basis for future risk management measures by the European Commission and member states.