With a hearing granted from the ECJ, European Farmers are even more optimistic about regaining an important tool to fight plant disease.

Widely seen as a positive step forward for farmers, on 29th May the ECJ General Court set a date of 1^st July for the much-anticipated Mancozeb renewal hearing.

Mancozeb is a highly effective multi-site fungicide and a key component for resistance management, for European farmers. The EU High Court case (C262/23 P) cites various procedural errors thus challenging the decision of the General Court, which supported the European Commission's decision to withdraw the authorization of Mancozeb in 2020.

This is good news for farmers who are hoping that the hearing will overturn the Commissions non-renewal decision and lead to the reinstatement of Mancozeb in Europe. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching and highly beneficial implications for the EU agricultural sector and beyond.

"A hearing being granted is very welcome news from the European Court of Justice – a key resistance breaker, Mancozeb was a cornerstone of the European Potato Blight management program and without it we have suffered year on year losses. We hope and expect this court judgement to pave the way for Mancozeb to be fully re-introduced to farmer toolboxes in Europe."

Tomasz Bienkowski – Chairman of the Board of Polish Potato Federation