Biopesticide Active Substances from Botanical Origin Under the European Phytopharmaceutical Regulation: A Regulatory Outline

Since 2011, BioControl Agents (BCAs) for crop protection under the Plant Protection Products (PPPs) Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 have been growing in popularity across Europe. BCA active substances include microorganisms, semiochemicals, and substances of natural origin. Of these, the most rapidly growing are those of plant origin, compared to those of animal, mineral and microbial origin. However, natural substances of plant origin are highly diverse, ranging from single molecules to complex botanical extracts. Previous studies have already described in detail the complex regulatory fate of botanical BCAs proposed under EU pesticide regulations as active substances, but this struggle has been compared to that experienced by other active substances, especially chemicals. The present study on broad-spectrum substances of plant origin reveals current trends in European PPP regulatory processes for all BCAs of plant origin. The results presented here show a decrease in the registration application of botanical plant totum extracts (decoctions, teas and essential oils), compared to the current increase in regulatory application of single molecules of plant origin. Therefore, the ongoing definition of BCAs at the EU level should help to solve these difficulties.