Ingredient Index

Is Phosmet banned in Europe?

Banned in EU

Yes: the EU refused to renew phosmet in 2022 over risks to operators, residents, and bees, and gaps in its safety data. The US EPA still registers it, and it is a common organophosphate on tree fruit like apples.

CAS: 732-11-6 Also seen as: Phosmet, Imidan, Prolate

What the EU does

Not renewed. In January 2022 the European Commission declined to renew phosmet, an organophosphate insecticide, and member states had to withdraw authorizations by 1 May 2022, with any grace period ending by 1 November 2022. EFSA had identified unacceptable risks to operators, residents, and bystanders, and a high risk to bees and other non-target insects.

On top of that, the consumer dietary risk could not be finalized because data on the toxicity and genotoxicity of the breakdown product phosmet-oxon were incomplete, so the Authority could not rule out harm at the existing residue limits. That combination ended its EU approval.

Citation Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/94 (non-renewal of phosmet); withdrawal by 1 May 2022, grace to 1 Nov 2022; EFSA conclusion (risks to operators, residents, bees; incomplete phosmet-oxon data)

What the US does

Still registered. The US EPA continues to register phosmet, long sold as Imidan, as an insecticide on tree fruit and other crops, including apples, pears, and stone fruit, as well as some uses on livestock. It is a cholinesterase-inhibiting organophosphate, the same broad class the US has been slowly reviewing.

So a pesticide the EU pulled over operator, bystander, and bee risk, plus unresolved data on its metabolite, is still applied to American orchard fruit that people eat fresh.

Citation US EPA registration and residue tolerances for phosmet (tree fruit and other crops); organophosphate cholinesterase-inhibitor class under EPA review

Products that commonly contain it

As an insecticide spray, phosmet connects to:

Conventionally grown apples and pears
Stone fruit and some other crops
Certain livestock pest treatments
Imported produce grown where it is still permitted

What to look for on a label

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

Certified-organic fruit prohibits phosmet
EU-market fruit faces strict residue limits after the non-renewal
Washing helps with surface residues but is not a complete fix

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Frequently asked questions

Is phosmet banned in Europe?

Yes. The EU did not renew its approval in 2022, citing risks to operators, residents, and bees, plus incomplete data on its breakdown product phosmet-oxon.

Is phosmet still used in the US?

Yes. The US EPA still registers it, long sold as Imidan, for use on tree fruit like apples and pears and on some other crops.

How do I avoid it?

Certified-organic fruit prohibits it, and EU-market fruit faces strict residue limits. Washing reduces surface residues but does not remove them entirely.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed August 17, 2026 · How we assign statuses