The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has identified several critical areas of concern for the herbicide flurochloridone, including endocrine disruption properties and high long-term risk to mammals, in a peer review published on 13 July 2026. The assessment, conducted under the EU's pesticide renewal procedure, found that flurochloridone meets the criteria for endocrine disruption for estrogen, androgen and steroidogenesis modalities in humans and wild mammals, and poses a high risk to mammals, aquatic organisms, and non-target arthropods for its representative uses on potato, sunflower, and cotton. Several data gaps were identified, preventing finalisation of the consumer risk assessment and environmental exposure assessment, particularly regarding the formation of the degradation product trifluoroacetic acid.
The review was carried out following an application by ADAMA Agriculture BV for the renewal of approval of flurochloridone, with Austria as rapporteur Member State and Croatia as co-rapporteur. The initial evaluation was submitted by Austria in August 2022, and EFSA distributed the renewal assessment report for consultation in February 2023. After expert consultations in September 2024, the applicant provided additional information on negligible human exposure but did not address negligible exposure for non-target organisms. The substance is classified as toxic for reproduction (Repr. 1B), leading to a critical area of concern under EU pesticide regulations. EFSA concluded that the available risk mitigation measures are insufficient to reduce exposure below acceptable levels for operators, bystanders, and residents. The assessment could not be finalised for several areas, including immunotoxicity potential and the impact of changes in isomer composition. The findings will inform the European Commission's decision on whether to renew the approval of flurochloridone under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009.