Ingredient Index

Is 1,3-Dichloropropene banned in Europe?

Banned in EU

Yes. 1,3-Dichloropropene, the soil fumigant sold as Telone, is not approved for use in the EU. In the US it is one of the highest-tonnage agricultural chemicals, injected into fields before planting.

CAS: 542-75-6 Also seen as: 1,3-Dichloropropene, 1,3-D, Telone, DCP

What the EU does

Not approved. 1,3-Dichloropropene was not included on the EU list of approved active substances, and member states were required to withdraw authorizations for products containing it. Under the EU positive-list system, that non-approval functions as a ban: no listing, no legal use.

The substance is a volatile chlorinated compound classified for its hazards, including carcinogenicity concerns, and its use as a pre-plant soil fumigant raised worker-exposure and groundwater issues that the EU review did not resolve in its favor.

Citation 1,3-Dichloropropene not approved under Reg (EC) No 1107/2009; non-inclusion under Directive 91/414/EEC (Commission Decision 2011/36/EU and predecessors)

What the US does

Registered and heavily used. In the US, 1,3-dichloropropene is a major pre-plant soil fumigant, marketed chiefly as Telone, injected into soil to kill nematodes before crops like strawberries, potatoes, and tomatoes go in. By volume it ranks among the most-used pesticides in the country.

The EPA regulates it as a restricted-use pesticide with buffer zones and application caps, and California in particular has set township limits and monitoring because of air-quality concerns. It is controlled, but it is legal and applied at scale, which is the opposite of the European picture.

Citation US EPA registered (restricted-use); California DPR township caps and air monitoring for 1,3-D; 40 CFR 180.1071 (tolerances/exemptions)

Products that commonly contain it

You would not find 1,3-D on a label; it is applied to soil, not food. It sits behind:

US strawberries, tomatoes, and potatoes grown in fumigated fields
Sweet potatoes, carrots, and other root crops
Nursery and ornamental production
Imported US produce, which the EU screens for residues

What to look for on a label

Because it is a soil treatment applied before planting, direct label detection is not possible:

Certified organic production does not use synthetic soil fumigants like 1,3-D
The chemical breaks down in soil, so it is a field-use and air-quality issue more than a food-residue one
In the EU, its absence reflects non-approval rather than a labeling rule

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Frequently asked questions

Is 1,3-dichloropropene banned in Europe?

Yes, in effect. It is not approved as a pesticide in the EU, so it cannot legally be used on European fields.

What is Telone?

Telone is the main US brand name for 1,3-dichloropropene, a soil fumigant injected before planting to kill nematodes.

Why does the US still allow it?

The EPA registers it as a restricted-use pesticide with buffer zones and caps. It is one of the highest-volume agricultural chemicals in the country.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed August 25, 2026 · How we assign statuses