Pollution from trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a persistent contaminant linked to the degradation of flufenacet, is significantly impacting water resources in France.

Despite being classified as an endocrine disruptor by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in late September 2024, the use of flufenacet remains unregulated in France.

In light of EFSA's findings, the legislative process to potentially not reapprove flufenacet has commenced, as confirmed by Stefan De Keersmaecker, a spokesperson for health at the European Commission.

Flufenacet, primarily used for treating wheat and barley crops, has seen a dramatic increase in sales, nearly doubling between 2019 and 2022 to over 900 tons annually.

Modeling by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses) suggests that TFA concentrations from pesticide degradation could reach up to 10 µg/L, significantly above the authorized limit.

French authorities are expected to classify TFA as a 'relevant' substance for drinking water, establishing a limit of 0.1 microgram per liter, with any exceedance rendering the water 'non-compliant'.

The presence of PFAS pollutants, known for their high toxicity and persistence, has already raised alarms regarding the quality of drinking water in France.

Recent reports indicate that more than half of the French population could soon be using drinking water classified as 'non-compliant' due to TFA contamination.

Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe is advocating for a swift ban on flufenacet, which has had its distribution authorization extended multiple times since it expired in 2013, currently set to last until June 2025.

A survey by PAN Europe revealed that three out of four water samples tested in France exceeded compliance limits, with one sample in Paris showing levels over 2 µg/L, affecting more than a third of the city's population.

The French NGO Générations Futures is calling for an immediate suspension of flufenacet use, while the Ministry of Ecological Transition pledges to monitor decisions related to TFA evaluation.

According to PAN Europe, 86% of drinking water samples tested across the European Union exceeded compliance limits, with French samples showing concentrations up to 20 times higher than quality thresholds.