Just under two decades ago, fluazinam secured market authorization within the European Union. Yet an earlier study had already pointed to possible negative effects on brain development. Recently, new research has shown that this product should never have been allowed in the EU. This constitutes a genuine scandal involving European evaluation agencies and one of the continent’s largest private laboratories.
A neurotoxic study deliberately concealed
First, it is important to recall that fluazinam is an agricultural fungicide, used mainly as a preventive measure to protect certain crops against diseases caused by microscopic fungi. It is especially applied to potatoes, grapes, onions, and tree fruit crops, notably apple orchards.
In 2008, fluazinam gained market authorization in the European Union and became fully integrated into the agricultural landscape. However, the Japanese manufacturer ISK Biosciences Europe deliberately failed to submit a neurotoxicity study to the authorities during the validation of the approval and renewal process in 2009. In the years that followed, the EU did obtain the study but validated the manufacturer’s conclusions without thoroughly analyzing the data.
A substance wrongly authorized for two decades
Led by the private European laboratory Huntingdon Life Sciences, the study in question dates from 2003-2005. The objective was to assess the impact of fluazinam on the brain development of rat fetuses during gestation. Yet the results highlighted major adverse effects on brain development. However, the conclusions presented to European regulators suggested that no statistically significant differences were observed, which ultimately led to the product’s authorization.
Not surprisingly, this is a genuine scandal revealed by scientists at Stockholm University (Sweden). They published a counter-expertise on the Zenodo platform and a press release on July 2, 2026. The authors say they have demonstrated the existence of fraudulent manipulation of the results by the industry.
After reworking the raw data from the original study, the researchers found a reduction in brain weight and structural alterations in young rats. In other words, the counter-expertise confirmed that fluazinam caused serious neurotoxic effects compromising brain development. In conclusion, the EU should have properly analyzed the data and refused to approve the substance in 2008 and, obviously, its renewal in 2009.
Towards a ban on fluazinam?
While fluazinam is currently under re-evaluation to decide on renewing its use, Swedish researchers have received backing from several NGOs. This includes Pesticide Action Network Europe, with scientific and policy lead Angeliki Lyssimachou calling for the suspension of all products containing fluazinam before their future ban, a stance echoed by The Guardian.
Finally, this affair rekindles the debate over the lack of independence of European evaluation agencies – such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) – but also, concerning the systemic reliance on studies provided by manufacturers themselves. The NGO Pesticide Action Network Europe has called for a full audit of all other regulatory studies conducted by Huntingdon Life Sciences in the European agrochemicals sector.
