Up to 700 agrochemicals may disappear from the market: consequences of harmonization with EU law

The scale of changes: what adaptation to EU standards entails

After the implementation of the European regulation EU Regulation 1107/2009, the Ukrainian market for plant protection products may experience a significant reduction. According to experts, about 700 registered products may be withdrawn from circulation due to non-compliance with European requirements. This is reported by agronews.ua.

Which products are at risk

The most vulnerable are soil herbicides and insecticides from the neonicotinoid group. In particular, widely used substances such as acetochlor and metolachlor, which are actually banned in the EU, are at risk. The loss of these products means not just a change in individual products, but the transformation of entire crop growing technologies, in particular corn and sunflower.

Lack of alternatives and risks for the agricultural sector

Experts emphasize that some of the banned substances currently do not have equivalent substitutes. Switching to approved analogues can lead to increased application rates, which in turn increases the risk of resistance development in pests and diseases.

Legal challenge: how to adapt the reform

Ukraine is actually facing an unprecedented task – no country has ever carried out such a large-scale simultaneous review of approved substances. In this regard, industry associations are calling for the introduction of long transition periods and a phased withdrawal of drugs from the market.

Balance between European integration and the economy

Harmonization of legislation with EU standards is an important step on the path of Ukraine’s integration into the single market. At the same time, its implementation requires a balanced approach in order to avoid sharp economic consequences for the agricultural sector and ensure food security.