Passing almost under the radar in Covid-19 emergency is the renewal of the European authorization for the use of the fungicide metalaxyl-M. Which will continue to litter the gardens and orchards of the Old Continent, exposing animals and humans to dangers of toxicity and endocrine disruption, for another 15 years. The new European Commission thus lends itself to the old games of all time, serving the Big 4 rather than the health of citizens and ecosystems.
Metalaxyl-M, the best-selling fungicide
Metalaxyl-M (also known as mefenoxam) is the most widely used fungicide in Italy. It was isolated by Syngenta Crop Protection from the quintessential systemic antiperonosporic-metalaxyl, introduced to the market by Ciba-Geigy (later to become Novartis, now Syngenta Crop Protection)-back in 1979.
It is registered in Europe for use on fruits, nuts, and vegetables for the control and prevention of diseases caused by phycomycetes. Commercially available formulations contain it in isolated form (for soil applications and bulb and seed dressing), but also in mixtures supplemented with covering fungicides, for foliar treatments.
Serious health and environmental risks
The risks to human and animal health are serious and widely highlighted, as noted. Refers to suspected reproductive toxicity, metabolic alterations, and breast cancer risks. As well as to altered thyroid function and chromosomal aberrations (with increased risk of cancer) in farmers. In addition to mutagenic effects, severe chronic toxicity and hepatotoxicity in mice.
Surveys by ISPRA, ARPAT, and the Ministry of Health also demonstrate the persistence and prevalence of the poisonous substance, which in soil is transformed into N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(methoxyacetyl)alanine, in surface water and non-organic Italian food. All health going away, with effects destined to linger for generations to come.
Renewal ‘remotely’ under Covid-19
Renewal of approval for the use of metalaxyl-M in the EU was applied for in 2012. This was followed by a public consultation and a peer review by the European Food Safety Authority, concluded in 2015. EFSA highlighted a high risk to birds and mammals when seed treatment (tanning) was used, without excluding theaction of Metalaxyl-m as an endocrine disruptor.
Risk mitigation measures-such as a 10-meter ‘buffer zone’ next to tomato and vine crops-have been suggested to protect off-target arthropods. Without being able to identify useful solutions to protect birds and mammals from bioaccumulation in earthworms and major plant metabolites. (1)
The PAFF (Plants, Animals, Food and Feed) Standing Committee , Pesticide Section, was to meet on 3/23-24.3.20 to discuss this agenda item as well. (2) But the meeting was canceled due to the coronavirus emergency, and theprocess of approving the use of Metalaxyl-M was concluded, by remote vote, based solely on the documentary findings.
A substance ‘candidate for substitution’
Regulation (EU) 2020/617 renews the authorization for the use of metalaxyl-M until 31.5.35, despite the fact that the fungicide is on the list of ‘candidate substances for substitution‘ (3,4). That is, those substances whose use-because of its dangerousness, to the planet and those who inhabit it-is subject to a ‘substitution‘ regime.
In theory this should entail:
– A shorter authorization period (not more than 7 years), (5)
– an obligation to verify, before granting or renewing a permit, whether alternatives, not only chemical, that are less hazardous exist for each area of use.
The renewal of metalaxyl-M
The Industrias Quimicas Del Vallés had filed an appeal against the metalaxyl-M permit renewal procedure, which was declared manifestly inadmissible by the European Court. (6) Rather, the renewal served to remove the restriction of use to fungicide function only.
Even, the European Commission asserted that metalaxyl-M would have no endocrine disrupting action. Except to ask the innkeeper if the wine is good. Thus, the only seemingly naive officials in Brussels, ‘in order toincrease confidence in these conclusions,’ ask the applicant (!) to provide an updated assessment on the point.
However, the regulation restricts the use of seeds treated with plant protection products containing this substance. As EFSA has identified risks to birds and mammals from consumption of metalaxyl-M coated seeds, their planting will be restricted to greenhouse crops, effective 1.6.21.
Europe of poisons
Online smuggling meanwhile continues undisturbed, in defiance of every European and national rule. Metalaxyl-M, along with Boscalid, Chlorpyrifos, Fludioxonil, Imidacloprid, Captan, Cyprodinil and other poisons can be purchased on Amazon and other ecommerce sites without any ‘competent authority’ doing anything.
Agrotoxics can thus be bought and used by anyone, even in professional settings. Escaping the requirements of authorization to purchase-which postulates the issuance of an affixed license, following training in their ‘proper use’-and registration by agricultural enterprises. Yet another tribute to agromafias who poison soils and waters to supply markets with dangerous foods.
Supply chain integrity remains a vacuous and unenforceable concept, in the Europe of poisons that does not even react to the overt scientific fraud on which the already issued permits are based.
Dario Dongo and Giulia Torre
Notes
(1) EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2015. Conclusion on the peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance metalaxyl-M. EFSA Journal 2015;13(3):3999, 105 pp. doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2015.3999
(2) PAFF Agenda 22-23.3.20, item B.02 https://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/plant/docs/sc_phyto_2 0200323_ppl_agenda.pdf
(3) Reg. EU 2020/717, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/IT/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32020R0617&from=IT
(4) Reg. EU 540/11, reg. EU 2015/408 (inclusion of metalaxyl and metalaxyl-m in the candidate list for substitution). See also reg. EC 1107/2009, Annex II, point 4
(5) The renewal under consideration for an additional 15 years was decided on the basis of a transitional provision in reg. EU 2015/408. This rule stipulates that the 7-year deadline does not apply to candidate substances for substitution whose applications for authorization were submitted before 1.8.15
(6) Order of the General Court 16.2.16, Case T-296/15, https://op.europa.eu/hu/publication-detail/-/publication/516a70c6-053e-11e6-b713-01aa75ed71a1/language-it/format-PDF
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
Graduated in law, master in European Food Law, she deals with agro-food, veterinary and agricultural legislation. She is a PhD in agrisystem.
