NGOs Urge EU Ban on Flufenacet Over Water Pollution Concerns

The pesticide flufenacet, linked to water contamination by the 'forever chemical' TFA, faces calls for prohibition due to its endocrine-disrupting properties.

Flufenacet, a widely used herbicide in France, has been identified as an endocrine disruptor by the European Food Safety Authority.
The degradation of flufenacet produces trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a persistent pollutant contaminating water supplies across France.
Tests show that TFA levels in French drinking water often exceed the safety threshold, with some samples showing concentrations 100 times above the limit.
Générations Futures and other NGOs have demanded the European Commission ban flufenacet, citing its significant environmental and health risks.
French authorities have been aware of the TFA contamination issue since 2017, yet it remains unregulated in drinking water standards.