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The European Commission Regulation (UE) 2026/1123 amending labelling requirements for plant protection products (PPPs) was published on 26 May 2026 in the EU Official Journal. It repeals Regulation (EU) No 547/2011. The aim of this new regulation is to further harmonise labelling requirements for PPPs, and to improve risk communication to end users of these products.
The main new feature is that each product will have, in addition to its physical label, a digital label easily accessible, free of charge and without requiring an account. This digital label will be accessible via a data carrier printed on the physical label (such as a QR code).
Also noteworthy is the possibility to use fold-out labels, provided that the requirements specified in point 1.2.1.6 of Annex I of the CLP Regulation (1272/2008) are met.
Annex I of this new regulation details the information on the PPP identification and conditions of use, which must appear on the PPP label. Among the novelties, new mandatory references to the obligation to apply the principles of integrated pest management and to the possibility of using precision application techniques for products authorised for professional users are introduced.
Annex II introduces standard phrases for safe disposal of the PPPs and their container (SD phrases) and their attribution criteria.
Annex III lists the new standard phrases for hazard to human health (RSh phrases) and to bees (RShb phrases) communication and their attribution criteria.
To be noted, with regard to bees, the introduction of the statement “Hazardous to bees” associated with a new pictogram, which shall be assigned to PPPs for which a standard acute contact or oral toxicity test on adult bees (honeybees, bumblebees or solitary bees) is required and shows a LD50 value equal or below 11 µg of formulation per bee, or to which any of the standard phrases of risk mitigation measures for the protection of bees and pollinators (SPb) has been assigned due to the risk assessment.
Annex IV only concerns PPPs containing micro-organisms, whose label must systematically state “Contains a microorganism. It may have the potential to cause sensitising reactions”.
Finally, annex V contains all the standard phrases for risk mitigation measures, with their attribution criteria:
- Restrictions of use (SRu phrases)
- Protection of operators and workers (SPo phrases)
- Protection of bystanders and residents (SPbr phrases)
- Protection of the environment (SPe phrases)
- Protection of bees and pollinators (SPb phrases)
- Prevention of the emergence of resistance (SPa phrases)
- Specific phrases for rodenticides (SPr phrases)
- Specific phrases spécifiques for seed treatment uses (Sts and Sss phrases)
This new regulation enters into force on 16 June 2026, and will apply from 1 January 2028. A transitional measure ensures a gradual implementation for all PPPs for which an application for authorization or renewal of authorization is submitted before 1 January 2028. Any modification to an existing label after 1 January 2028 must also include a digital label. Finally, by 1 January 2030, at the latest, all PPP labels must include a digital label.
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See also our previous articles:
EUROPE: New draft regulation on labelling requirements for plant protection products
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