The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that the pesticide active substance bifenazate does not meet the endocrine disruptor criteria for humans and wild mammals through the oestrogen, androgen and steroidogenesis (EAS) pathways, according to a peer review published on 7 July 2026. The conclusion, which covers representative uses as an acaricide on strawberry, fruiting vegetables, flowering and ornamental plants, and nursery ornamentals, found no concerns for the evaluated uses. The assessment was triggered by confirmatory data submitted by the applicant UPL Europe Ltd. in May 2024, following a specific provision of the substance's re-approval in July 2022.
The peer review process began when the rapporteur Member State Sweden evaluated the confirmatory data and distributed a revised renewal assessment report on 21 November 2024. After a commenting phase, EFSA issued a Technical Report in June 2025, and the European Commission subsequently requested a peer review focusing on endocrine disruption potential for EAS-modalities. Expert discussions took place at a Pesticides Peer Review Meeting in November 2025, followed by a written procedure with Member States in February/March 2026. The final conclusion confirms that bifenazate does not meet the endocrine disruptor criteria under points 3.6.5 and 3.8.2 of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2018/605. For the thyroid modality, a similar conclusion had already been reached in the 2025 Technical Report. The assessment also noted that the rat metabolite 4,4′-biphenol is unlikely to pose endocrine disruption concerns due to the limiting toxicity of bifenazate.
The conclusion provides regulatory certainty for the continued use of bifenazate in the EU, benefiting the applicant UPL Europe Ltd. and growers relying on this acaricide for pest control. National authorities can now use the reliable endpoints identified in the peer review for their own risk assessments. Environmental and consumer groups may note that no critical areas of concern were identified, though the assessment was limited to the representative uses and EAS-modalities. The European Commission can now consider the findings for any future regulatory decisions on the substance.