Spinosad renewed until 1 April 2041 after a reassessment of endocrine properties: monitoring as the sum of spinosyn A and D (QuEChERS, LC-MS/MS, LOQ 0.005 mg/kg), ADI 0.024 and ARfD 0.1 mg/kg bw; in the provisional EFSA assessment indoor lettuce — 309 % of the ARfD
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/351, published on 19 February 2026, renews from 1 April 2026 to 1 April 2041 the approval of the insecticide spinosad and lifts the restriction to insecticide uses. In 2018 EFSA found that the interim endocrine disruption criteria then in force might be met; after the Commission mandate of 14 January 2019 and new studies, the updated conclusion of 12 December 2024 states that spinosad does not meet these criteria. A corrigendum of 17 April 2026 changed the date of the renewal report in the annexes from 11 December 2025 to 21 January 2026.
- Annex: spinosad (CAS 168316-95-8; spinosyn A 131929-60-7, spinosyn D 131929-63-0; CIPAC 636), purity ≥ 850 g/kg, with 50–95 % spinosyn A and 5–50 % spinosyn D; in the IUPAC name column the act (PL and EN versions) gives “(50–5 %)” for spinosyn D. EFSA: spinosad is produced by fermentation of Saccharopolyspora spinosa and solvent extraction; the specification was updated because more modern analytical techniques identified new compounds; data gap — identification of impurities above 1 g/kg.
- Methods (EFSA): monitoring residue definition in all matrices — spinosad, sum of spinosyn A and spinosyn D; food and feed of plant origin and milk, eggs, meat, fat and liver — QuEChERS with LC-MS/MS, LOQ 0.005 mg/kg for each spinosyn. Soil 0.005 mg/kg, water 0.01 µg/L, air 0.36 µg/m³, blood and urine 0.025 mg/L; in soil also spinosyn B and N-demethyl spinosyn D (0.005 mg/kg). CIPAC methods exist for the technical material and SC formulations.
- Reference values (EFSA): ADI 0.024 mg/kg bw per day, ARfD 0.1 mg/kg bw, AOEL 0.02 mg/kg bw per day and AAOEL 0.04 mg/kg bw (oral absorption 40 %). Not finalised: analytical methods for the diet in key toxicity studies, in vitro comparative metabolism study and developmental neurotoxicity. Provisional consumer assessment (PRIMo 3.1): 11 % of the ADI, but 309 % of the ARfD for indoor lettuce and 82 % for outdoor lettuce.
- Act: Member States must take spinosad metabolites and the effect of storage and processing into account in the intake assessment and protect operators using hand-held sprayers in low crops, wild mammals, aquatic organisms, bees and other arthropods. By 11 March 2028 — the in vitro metabolism study, toxicity and levels of spinosyn B and K, PsA and MET A-Li-4(5b) in plant and animal matrices, and the effect of water treatment; data on developmental neurotoxicity and chronic effects on bees — within two years of the adoption of the relevant guidance.