Acetamipride, pesticide prohibited in fields since 2020 in France, remained present in household products for individuals. In the absence of a request for renewal by its manufacturer, it will disappear from the market in 2027 before a total ban in early 2028.
Towards the end of household biocides based on acetamipride
The decision has fallen: the acetamipride will gradually leave the shelves. On September 30, future generations revealed that the manufacturer of acetamipride, the company Nisso Chemical Europe, made no request for renewal of the approval of acetamipride at European level as a biocide in the TP18 category: insecticides, macarids and products used to fight against other arthropods, nor for any other type of biocidal product. The period of filing of a request for re -authorization being exceeded, the acetamipride cannot be re -authorized in Europe as a biocide.
Direct consequence: domestic biocides containing this powerful neurotoxic, belonging to the family of neonicotinoids, are authorized in the European Union until January 31, 2027, the date on which the previous authorization expires. A usual period of grace will allow sales to continue until July 30, 2027, and their use will be prohibited from January 31, 2028, according to the ECHA.
Acetamipride, a neonicotinoid at the heart of the debates on the DUPLomb law
Member of the family of neonicotinoids, acetamipride has been used for years in anti-Found, cockroach or mosquito products. In France, it has been prohibited in agriculture since 2020, but its domestic use had persisted. Like the other molecules of this class, he crystallized the debates during the adoption of the Duplumb law, which had proposed his reintroduction before the censorship of a part of the text by the Constitutional Council.
Scientific concerns are multiple: neurotoxicity, potential endocrine disruptive effects, development risks (DNT effect) and attacks on pollinators. It is these same concerns that led Nisso Chemical Europe to initiate additional studies within the framework of the regulations on pesticides. According to future generations, these works relate to the endocrine disturbing potential of acetamipride and its neurotoxicity for development. The results should be subject to EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) by mid-2026.
“EFSA has been worried about possible neurological effects in mammals. Japanese studies conducted on rodents have highlighted the appearance of breast tumors, while other in vitro research has shown effects on the liver. Analyzes carried out from autopsies have also revealed real genes. selection “, confided in a previous article Dr. Emmanuel Ricard, public health doctor and director of the prevention of the league against cancer,
Does the NGO Générations Future question: does Nisso already have preliminary data that would have pushed it to abandon its use in biocide?
Future generations: between relief and requirement
For future generations, Nisso Chemical Europe’s decision is a turning point. The association underlines: “The end of acetamipride in biocidal use in individuals is excellent news“. But it also highlights the responsibility of industrialists in this abandonment:”It is completely incomprehensible that the data of studies carried out at the request of the industrialist are not made public“.
Pauline Cervan, toxicologist of the NGO, goes further: “Future generations has no doubt that manufacturers knew that acetamipride had no chance of being re -authorized in Europe as a biocide with regard to the unacceptable risk it poses, for which they probably did not defend the renewal of this substance in Europe. This fact is fully due to future generations which requires the withdrawal of acetamipride in all its uses at the French and European level for months. Today this recognition of the dangerousness of acetamipride commands that no new derogation is granted in agriculture in our country!“. François Veillerette, spokesperson for the association, believes that”No element makes it possible to hope for a re-authorization of this molecule at European level“.
For the NGO, this non-renewal should not remain an exception but a strong signal. It calls for a total prohibition of acetamipride in all its uses, and the publication of the results of studies which are still under the seal of industrial secrecy.