EU to Ban Chlorpyrifos Pesticide Starting in February

The European Union confirmed it will no longer permit sales of the widely-used insecticide chlorpyrifos after Jan. 31, 2020.

In a regulatory committee vote Dec. 6, EU countries backed the withdrawal of the authorization for the chlorpyrifos and and the related substance chlorpyrifos-methyl, which have been identified as a possible cause of neurological damage in children.

The move was expected after the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which carries out pesticide risk assessments, said in August that no safe exposure level existed for chlorpyrifos, which is used widely on fruit, corn, and other crops.

The prohibition will hit Corteva Agriscience, ...