Sweden plans to strengthen the regulation of the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in agriculture to respond to the European Union’s increasingly strict regulatory requirements in the field of environmental health. Previously, Denmark announced the gradual phase-out of about 20 plant protection products containing PFAS, as they can degrade into the water-soluble metabolite trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and infiltrate groundwater systems, raising environmental and health concerns.
The Swedish Chemicals Agency is expected to release the relevant strategy in the second half of this year, and local growers are currently closely monitoring and awaiting this announcement.
A farmer in Skåne Province mentioned that although several potato varieties with strong disease resistance and low pesticide requirements have been developed, these varieties still have limitations in terms of commercial viability, and the acceptance by the market and consumers remains unclear. He pointed out that consumers generally prefer potatoes with a good appearance, leading to about 15%–20% of the products being discarded due to cosmetic defects, which are ultimately converted into biogas or animal feed.
Currently, effective control measures that do not contain PFAS are still limited, and growers face a difficult trade-off.Some traditional growers have reported attempts to reduce or discontinue the use of PFAS-containing products but still face considerable uncertainty. The environmental coordinator of the Swedish Board of Agriculture stated that "the entire industry is highly tense" until the national strategy is clearly defined. She indicated that organic farming has proven that managing potato cultivation without PFAS-containing products is feasible, but the impact on yields under this model still needs to be evaluated. In the future, variety breeding, crop rotation systems, and cultivation techniques will be key factors.
PFAS chemicals are not only used to control potato late blight but are also widely used for weed and pest control in conventional agriculture.
German regulatory authorities have already raised concerns about the potential reproductive health risks of TFA, and the EU is reassessing the scope of PFAS use. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is expected to propose guidelines for the allowable intake of this substance next year.The Swedish Chemicals Agency pointed out that the core issue is that TFA, as a previously underrecognized toxic metabolite, is gradually revealing its risks. Since this spring, Sweden has conducted a series of preliminary investigations. The agency noted that PFAS involves numerous agricultural products, and a sudden comprehensive ban would have a significant impact on local agriculture; therefore, it is formulating phased and batch assessments and alternative solutions.
A potato grower who also serves as a board member of the Swedish Farmers Association stated that if Sweden follows Denmark in implementing a broad ban, the impact on the country’s agricultural competitiveness must be carefully evaluated. He emphasized the need to avoid a shrinkage of domestic production and increased import dependency due to improper policy implementation, which could lead to even more unfavorable industrial consequences.
