Ingredient Index

Is Chlorothalonil banned in Europe?

Banned in EU

Yes: the EU refused to renew chlorothalonil in 2019 over cancer concerns and breakdown products that turn up in groundwater. In the US it is still one of the most heavily used fungicides, common on peanuts, potatoes, and tomatoes.

CAS: 1897-45-6 Also seen as: Chlorothalonil, Bravo, Daconil, TCPN

What the EU does

Not renewed. In April 2019 the European Commission declined to renew the approval of chlorothalonil, and its authorization expired on 31 October 2019. EFSA could not rule out that the fungicide is a genotoxic carcinogen, and it flagged that chlorothalonil breaks down into transformation products that show up in groundwater above the levels EU law allows.

Member States had to pull products by late 2019, with any national grace period closing by 20 May 2020. Switzerland followed with its own ban. This is a clean example of the EU precautionary logic: an unresolved cancer question plus persistent water contamination was treated as reason enough to stop.

Citation Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/677 (non-renewal of chlorothalonil); approval expiry 31 Oct 2019; EFSA conclusion on the peer review of chlorothalonil, 2018

What the US does

Still registered. The US EPA continues to register chlorothalonil, and it remains one of the highest-volume fungicides in American agriculture, used broadly on peanuts, potatoes, tomatoes, and other vegetables, plus turf and ornamentals. The EPA classifies it as a likely human carcinogen but sets residue tolerances rather than removing it.

So the same molecule Europe judged too risky to keep is a routine tool on US farms. The gap is not about detection, it is about how much uncertainty each system will tolerate before it acts.

Citation US EPA registration and residue tolerances for chlorothalonil (40 CFR 180.275); EPA cancer classification (likely human carcinogen)

Products that commonly contain it

Chlorothalonil is a spray, not a listed ingredient, so it rides invisibly on:

Conventionally grown peanuts and peanut products
Potatoes and tomatoes
A range of vegetables, plus some fruit
Imported produce grown where it is still permitted

What to look for on a label

You will not see it on a label, so the signals are indirect:

Pesticide use is not disclosed on produce; it is a growing-stage treatment
Certified-organic produce prohibits chlorothalonil
EU-market produce must meet the near-zero residue limits set after the ban

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Frequently asked questions

Is chlorothalonil banned in Europe?

Yes. The EU did not renew its approval in 2019, and its authorization expired that October, over concerns about carcinogenicity and groundwater contamination from its breakdown products.

Is chlorothalonil still used in the US?

Yes, heavily. The US EPA still registers it, and it is one of the most-used fungicides on crops like peanuts, potatoes, and tomatoes, despite being classified as a likely human carcinogen.

How do I avoid it?

Certified-organic produce prohibits it, and produce grown for the EU market has to meet the strict post-ban residue limits.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed August 13, 2026 · How we assign statuses