These are PFAS agents that can break down to trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). In the long term, TFA is considered to pose a serious threat to groundwater and therefore a reassessment is required, according to Mats Allmyr, strategic advisor at the Swedish Chemicals Agency.
But until the trial is complete, the funds can continue to be used in Sweden.
He does not want to comment on the likelihood that there will also be a ban in Sweden. National circumstances will be taken into account in the assessment.
Different countries have different ways of calculating the risk of these substances and their metabolites spreading to groundwater. This takes into account weather data and the permeability of the soil.
In total, the reassessment includes 38 Swedish plant protection products with one of the active substances diflufenican, flonicamid, fluazinam, fluopyram, mefentrifluconazole and tau-fluvalinate.
