Ingredient Index

Is Methoxyfenozide banned in Europe?

Banned in EU

Yes, as of 2026: the EU let methoxyfenozide's approval expire in March 2026 with no renewal, and formally removed it from the approved list. The US EPA still registers it for fruits and vegetables.

CAS: 161050-58-4 Also seen as: Methoxyfenozide, Intrepid, Runner

What the EU does

Approval lapsed. The EU approval of methoxyfenozide, an insect growth regulator, expired on 31 March 2026, and no application to renew it was pursued, so the authorization ended. The Commission then formally removed methoxyfenozide from the list of approved active substances, terminating product authorizations across member states.

This is the quiet way pesticides leave the EU market: not always a dramatic ban, but an approval that runs out and is simply not renewed, which has the same practical effect of taking the chemical off EU fields.

Citation Methoxyfenozide EU approval expired 31 Mar 2026 (no renewal) under Reg (EC) No 1107/2009; removed from the approved-substances list by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1154

What the US does

Still registered. The US EPA continues to register methoxyfenozide, which is used on a variety of fruit and vegetable crops to control caterpillar pests. It is generally regarded as relatively selective, but the transatlantic point stands: it remains an approved tool in the US after the EU let it go.

For a shopper, this is a lower-profile example than the headline carcinogens, but it is part of the same pattern of the EU steadily trimming its approved-pesticide list faster than the US.

Citation US EPA registration and residue tolerances for methoxyfenozide (fruits and vegetables)

Products that commonly contain it

As an insecticide, methoxyfenozide connects to:

Conventionally grown tree fruit and berries
Brassica and other vegetables
Vines and some field crops
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:

Certified-organic produce prohibits methoxyfenozide
EU-market produce faces residue limits set after the approval lapsed
It is a field treatment, not disclosed on the product

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Frequently asked questions

Is methoxyfenozide banned in Europe?

Effectively yes, as of 2026. Its EU approval expired on 31 March 2026 without renewal, and it was removed from the approved-substances list.

Is it still used in the US?

Yes. The US EPA still registers methoxyfenozide for use on a range of fruit and vegetable crops.

Is it especially dangerous?

It is considered relatively selective compared with older insecticides. Its EU exit was an expiry-without-renewal, part of the broader trimming of the EU pesticide list rather than a high-profile safety scandal.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed August 13, 2026 · How we assign statuses