Evaluation of the medium-term availability of active substances in plant protection products – assessment of possible alternatives and impacts on Austrian agriculture

The portfolio of active substances for plant protection products available in the European Union is currently undergoing massive change. While the number of approved active substances has remained roughly the same in recent years, there has been a shift from chemical active substances to microorganisms and other biological active substances, such as plant extracts and pheromones. The background to this development is the constant adaptation of testing methods to new findings and the state of the art in science, as well as the consideration of additional criteria in the approval of active substances (e.g. endocrine properties). This is also intended to support the goal of a sustainable food system within the framework of the European Commission's ‘Green Deal’.While sufficient alternatives are still available for some of the chemical active substances that are no longer approved, lengthy negotiations on individual active substances in the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, as well as experience from agricultural practice, show that some chemical active substances are difficult or impossible to replace. Based on the currently established assessment methods, it is already to be expected that further chemical substances will not be approved. In addition, it can be assumed that further findings regarding possible negative effects on human health and the environment will result in individual active substances and even entire groups of active substances losing their approval in the medium term. For example, the problem areas of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHI) and the increase in resistance in the medical sector due to azole active substances, but the new CLP criteria (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) and adaptations to the Drinking Water Ordinance could also influence the availability of PPP active substances. As part of the project, an assessment will now be carried out, taking into account the currently valid evaluation criteria as well as already known future developments and requirements at European level, to determine which active substances may no longer be available in the medium term. After analysing the potential treatment gaps, possible alternatives will be discussed and evaluated in terms of the state of the art, practicability and effectiveness, relevance for Austrian agriculture and the time horizon for future application and implementation.