The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) will hold a crucial hearing in case C-262/23 P, challenging the European Commission’s 2020 decision to withdraw mancozeb, a key fungicide used in the management of late blight in potatoes. This ruling could open the door to the reapproval of mancozeb and its return to European farmers.
The legal challenge argues that the European Commission’s decision failed to take into account updated classification guidelines issued by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which could significantly affect the assessment of mancozeb’s classification as a reproductive toxicant. The withdrawal was based on outdated criteria that do not reflect current scientific knowledge.
This hearing comes amid a worsening crisis of late blight across the EU. Infections are now appearing earlier in the season, even before planting ends in some regions, with new and aggressive pathogen strains outpacing both crop breeding efforts and available fungicide solutions.
The 2020 withdrawal 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 effectiveness, and several active substances are under renewed regulatory scrutiny.
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The sector has continued investing in sustainable solutions, such as the 2024 Action Plan launched by Copa and Cogeca to strengthen Integrated Pest Management (IPM), accelerate the use of resistant varieties, and improve coordination across the value chain. Despite these efforts, field conditions remain increasingly concerning.
Therefore, this hearing is more than a legal formality. It is a crucial test of the EU’s ability to base its regulatory decisions on updated scientific guidelines and the real needs of agriculture. Copa and Cogeca call on EU institutions to ensure that farmers retain access to effective tools while upholding the Union’s high standards for health, safety, and sustainability.
