Pesticide product authorisation in the European Union
In the European Union a plant protection product must be authorised in the Member State where it is placed on the market or used. Approval of the active substance happens at EU level; authorisation of the finished product is granted nationally. The EU Pesticides Database records active-substance approval status and authorisations reported by Member States.
European Union · Pesticides · last verified 2026-08-20
What applies
- A plant protection product must be authorised in the Member State concernedRequired
Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, Article 28(1) provides that a plant protection product “shall not be placed on the market or used unless it has been authorised in the Member State concerned in accordance with this Regulation”.
Documented exceptions
- Article 28(2) sets out derogations, including products containing exclusively basic substances, use for research or development under Article 54, and production, storage or movement of a product intended for use in another Member State where it is authorised there.
Applies to: Plant protection products placed on the EU market; Use of plant protection products in a Member State
Check in: EU Pesticides Database
Source: Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market
- Check the current status of an active substance or productCheck the official source
The EU Pesticides Database is the Commission’s record of active-substance approval and of authorisations reported by Member States. Product-level authorisation is a national decision, so the national register of the Member State concerned is the authoritative source for a specific product.
Applies to: Anyone verifying whether a substance is approved or a product authorised
Check in: EU Pesticides Database
Source: Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market
Who regulates this
Official sources
Important limitations
- Authorisation of a specific product is granted by an individual Member State; this page describes the EU framework and does not state the position for any particular product or country.
- AgricultureID provides informational references to official sources and does not replace legal or professional advice.