Ingredient Index

Is Carbaryl banned in Europe?

Banned in EU

Yes: the EU withdrew all agricultural and garden uses of carbaryl in 2007. In the US it is one of the most widely applied insecticides, sold for decades as Sevin, though home formulations have been phased out.

CAS: 63-25-2 Also seen as: Carbaryl, Sevin, 1-naphthyl methylcarbamate

What the EU does

Withdrawn. In May 2007 the European Commission decided not to include carbaryl on its list of approved pesticide active substances, and required member states to withdraw all authorizations for agricultural and garden products containing it. That decision effectively ended carbaryl use across the EU.

Carbaryl is a carbamate insecticide that works by inhibiting an enzyme in the nervous system, the same broad mechanism as organophosphates. Concerns about its hazard profile, including a carcinogenicity question, are part of why the EU let it go.

Citation Commission Decision 2007/355/EC (non-inclusion of carbaryl in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC; withdrawal of authorizations)

What the US does

Still registered, and heavily used. The US EPA describes carbaryl, long sold under the brand Sevin, as one of the most widely applied insecticides in the country, in use since 1959 with millions of pounds applied each year across farms, lawns, and gardens.

There are some US limits: California treats it as a restricted-use material, and consumer Sevin formulations have shifted away from carbaryl since around 2020. But at the federal level it remains registered and common, a sharp contrast with the EU's full withdrawal.

Citation US EPA registration of carbaryl (widely used insecticide since 1959); California restricted-use status; phase-out of homeowner carbaryl formulations from ~2020

Products that commonly contain it

As an insecticide, carbaryl connects to:

Conventionally grown fruits, vegetables, and nuts
Lawn, garden, and ornamental pest products
Some pet and livestock pest treatments
Imported produce grown where it is still permitted

What to look for on a label

On garden products it is on the label; on food it is not:

On pesticides, carbaryl is listed as an active ingredient
Certified-organic produce prohibits it
EU-market produce faces strict residue limits after the withdrawal

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Frequently asked questions

Is carbaryl banned in Europe?

Yes. The EU withdrew all agricultural and garden authorizations for carbaryl in 2007, effectively ending its use.

Is Sevin the same thing?

Sevin is the long-standing US brand name for carbaryl. Older Sevin products were carbaryl-based, though consumer formulations have moved away from it since around 2020.

Is it still used in the US?

Yes. The US EPA still registers carbaryl, and it remains one of the most widely applied insecticides, with some state-level restrictions.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed August 17, 2026 · How we assign statuses