Germany approves emergency pesticide for vineyards

Germany’s Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety has granted an emergency authorization for Piretro Verde in vineyards and vine nurseries to control the American grapevine leafhopper, a pest that can damage young vines and reduce the health of production sites.

The authorization, issued under Article 53 of European Union plant protection rules, took effect on May 6 and runs through Sept. 2, covering a total of 120 days. The approval applies to vine nursery areas, mother blocks, scion propagation plots and commercial vineyards. The agency said the permitted volume is capped at 16,344 liters, enough to treat 250 hectares of vine nursery areas, 20 hectares of mother blocks, 500 hectares of scion propagation areas and 1,500 hectares of production vineyards.

The decision gives growers and nurseries a temporary tool during the 2026 season as they face pressure from the insect, known in German as the Amerikanische Rebzikade. The leafhopper is a concern in viticulture because it can weaken vines and complicate plant material production, especially in nursery settings where healthy stock is essential.

The authorization was announced by the BVL on May 12 through its plant protection information service. Emergency approvals under Article 53 are limited in time and are used when no adequate alternative is available to address an urgent plant health threat. In this case, the measure is aimed at protecting both propagation material and fruiting vineyards during a critical part of the growing season.

For German wine producers, the move may ease immediate pest-control constraints this year, but it also underscores how quickly regulatory decisions can shape vineyard management when insect pressure rises. The approval is restricted to the stated period and acreage limits, meaning growers must work within the fixed supply available under the emergency measure.