The European Parliament adopted by 349 votes to 275, with 14 abstentions, a resolution objecting to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1480 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 as regards the extension of the approval periods of the active substances including 8-hydroxyquinoline, chlorotoluron and difenoconazole.

Parliament considered that the draft Commission implementing regulation exceeds the implementing powers provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 and that it does not respect the precautionary principle. It stated that the decision to extend the approval periods for 8-hydroxyquinoline, chlorotoluron and difenoconazole is not in line with the safety criteria laid down in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 and is based neither on evidence that those substances can be used safely, nor on a proven urgent need for those substances in food production in the Union.

In support of its objection, Parliament stated that 8-hydroxyquinoline should be classified as reproductive toxicity category 1B and that it is considered to have endocrine-disrupting properties that may cause adverse effects in humans. As for chlorotoluron, it has a harmonised classification of very toxic to aquatic life, very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects, suspected of causing cancer and suspected of damaging the unborn child. Difenoconazole is suspected of inducing triazole-resistance in the fungal strain Aspergillus fumigatus. The resolution stated that one in four patients admitted to intensive care due to COVID-19-related health problems were found to have been infected with Aspergillus fumigatus, of which 15 % of them are diagnosed with a resistant variant of Aspergillus fumigatus. Those patients become almost untreatable and their survival rate is estimated at just 20 %.

Members stressed that extending the approval periods of substances which lead to resistance to fungal medicines is unacceptable from a health point of view.

The Commission is asked to:

- repeal Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1480 and to submit a new draft to the committee, which takes into account the scientific evidence on the harmful properties of all the substances concerned, especially of 8-hydroxyquinoline, chlorotoluron and difenoconazole;

- only present draft implementing regulations to extend the approval periods of substances for which the current state of science is not expected to lead to a Commission proposal for non-renewal of the approval of the active substance concerned;

- withdraw the approvals for substances if proof or reasonable doubt exists that they will not meet the safety criteria laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009;

- duly justify its decisions to extend the approval periods of active substances in the future and to stop proceeding with such extension proposals ‘by package’, in order to increase Member States scrutiny of such decisions.

Lastly, Member States are called on to ensure the proper and timely reassessment of the approvals for the active substances for which they are the reporting Member States, and to ensure that current delays are solved effectively and as soon as possible.