Ingredient Index

Is Oxamyl banned in Europe?

Banned in EU

Yes. The EU declined to renew oxamyl, a carbamate insecticide and nematicide, and its approval lapsed in 2023. The US keeps it registered under the Vydate brand.

CAS: 23135-22-0 Also seen as: Oxamyl, Vydate

What the EU does

Not renewed. The EU chose not to renew oxamyl approval, and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/741 confirmed the non-renewal, with the approval expiring on 30 June 2023 and member states required to revoke product authorizations by August 2023. It is no longer legal for use in the EU.

EFSA identified risks that could not be ruled out for consumers and for the environment, including water and soil. Oxamyl is a carbamate, so like the organophosphates it inhibits cholinesterase, and it is highly acutely toxic, particularly relevant for a substance applied to soil and taken up by plants.

Citation Commission Implementing Reg (EU) 2023/741 (non-renewal of oxamyl); approval expired 30 June 2023; Reg (EC) No 1107/2009

What the US does

Registered. Oxamyl remains a US EPA-registered insecticide and nematicide, sold mainly as Vydate, used on crops including potatoes, tomatoes, and various fruits and vegetables to control nematodes and insects. It is a restricted-use pesticide given its toxicity.

So the transatlantic split is recent and clean: Europe let oxamyl lapse in 2023 after deciding the risks were not acceptable, while the US kept it on the market with restricted-use controls.

Citation US EPA registered (restricted-use); oxamyl registration review; 40 CFR 180.303 (tolerances)

Products that commonly contain it

Oxamyl is applied to soil and plants, so it sits behind produce rather than on labels:

US potatoes and tomatoes
Peppers, cucurbits, and some tree fruit
Sold to certified applicators as Vydate
Imported produce screened at the EU border, where it is no longer allowed

What to look for on a label

As a restricted-use crop input, oxamyl is not readable from packaging:

Organic production does not use synthetic carbamate insecticides
Washing reduces surface residues but oxamyl can be taken up systemically by plants
In the EU, its absence reflects the 2023 non-renewal

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Frequently asked questions

Is oxamyl banned in Europe?

Yes. The EU did not renew its approval, which expired on 30 June 2023, so oxamyl can no longer be used on European crops.

What is Vydate?

Vydate is the main US brand name for oxamyl, a carbamate insecticide and nematicide used on crops like potatoes and tomatoes.

Why did the EU stop allowing it?

EFSA found risks to consumers and to the environment, including water and soil, that could not be ruled out, so the Commission did not renew the approval.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed August 25, 2026 · How we assign statuses