Europe: Mancozeb withdrawal for potatoes challenged
On July 1, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) will hold a crucial hearing in Case C 262/23 P, which challenges the European Commission’s 2020 decision to withdraw mancozeb for potatoes.
This ruling could pave the way for the re-approval of mancozeb and its availability to European farmers. The case will be closely followed by farmers and their cooperatives across Europe.
The legal challenge focuses on the European Commission’s failure to take into account updated classification guidelines issued by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which could significantly affect the assessment of mancozeb’s reproductive toxicity. The withdrawal was based on outdated criteria that do not reflect current scientific knowledge.
This hearing comes amid a worsening late blight crisis across the EU. Infections are now appearing early in the season, even before sowing has finished in some regions, with new and aggressive strains of pathogens that are overwhelming both crop improvement efforts and available fungicidal solutions.
Mancozeb, a cost-effective, multi-site fungicide with proven value in resistance management, has long been a mainstay of integrated pest management (IPM) in European potato production. Its withdrawal in 2020 left many growers without viable alternatives at a time when climate volatility and pathogen evolution are intensifying disease pressure. Existing fungicides, which are primarily single-site products, are losing efficacy, and several active ingredients are under renewed regulatory scrutiny.
The sector has continued to invest in sustainable solutions, such as the 2024 Action Plan launched by Copa and Cogeca to strengthen IPM, accelerate the use of resistant varieties, and improve value chain coordination. Despite this, field conditions remain increasingly concerning.
Therefore, this hearing is more than a mere legal formality. It is a crucial test of the EU’s ability to base its regulatory decisions on up-to-date scientific guidelines and real agricultural needs. Copa and Cogeca urge the EU institutions to ensure that farmers maintain access to effective tools, while upholding the Union’s high standards of health, safety, and sustainability.
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