The EU Extends the Approval Validity Period of Popular Active Substances Including 

Bentazone and Clomazone

Recently, the European Union officially issued a resolution to extend the approval validity period of multiple popular active substances, including bentazone and clomazone. The resolution officially entered into force on April 24, 2025, aiming to ensure the continued compliant use of these active substances pending the completion of their re-evaluation processes.

Bentazone

Bentazone is a contact-type selective herbicide belonging to the benzothiadiazinone class, developed by BASF SE in 1972. Primarily used for foliar application during the seedling stage, it acts through leaf contact, enabling highly effective control of a wide range of Cyperaceae and broadleaf weeds, while exhibiting no activity against Gramineae weeds.

Currently, bentazone has obtained registrations in China, the European Union, Brazil and other countries and regions. As of May 2025, a total of 23 technical pesticide registrations and 243 formulated pesticide registrations for bentazone have been approved in China.

In this resolution, the EU announced that the approval validity period of bentazone is extended to October 31, 2027.

Clomazone

Clomazone is a selective herbicide of the isoxazolidinone class, developed by FMC Corporation. Its primary mechanism of action involves inhibiting the synthesis of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate (DOXP), which leads to chlorophyll deficiency in susceptible plants, causing them to exhibit bleaching symptoms and die within a short period.

At present, clomazone has been registered in China, the United States, the European Union, Brazil, Canada and other countries and regions. As of May 2025, there are 26 technical pesticide registrations and 267 formulated pesticide registrations for clomazone in China.

This time, the EU declared that the approval validity period of clomazone is extended to September 30, 2026.