Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1696 of 14 July 2026 renewing the approval of the active substance pelargonic acid in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011

Renewal of the approval of the active substance

Article 1

The approval of the active substance pelargonic acid, as specified in Annex I to this Regulation, is renewed, subject to the conditions laid down in that Annex.

Amendment to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011

Article 2

The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 is amended in accordance with Annex II to this Regulation.

Entry into force and date of application

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union . It shall apply from 1 October 2026.

ANNEX ISupplementary provisions

ANNEX I Common Name, Identification Numbers IUPAC Name Purity  ( 1 ) Date of approval Expiration of approval Specific provisions Pelargonic acid CAS No 112-05-0 CIPAC No 888 Nonanoic acid ≥ 889 g/kg Food grade quality as per specification E570 Fatty Acids in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012  ( 2 ) : Residue on ignition: Not more than 0,1 % Unsaponifiable matter: Not more than 1,5 % Water content: Not more than 0,2 % (Karl Fischer method) Arsenic: Not more than 3 mg/kg Lead: Not more than 1 mg/kg Mercury: Not more than 1 mg/kg The following impurities are of toxicological concern and must not exceed the following levels in the technical material: — Hexanoic acid — Heptanoic acid — Octanoic acid Limit: Sum of three impurities < 50 g/kg 1 October 2026 30 September 2041 For the implementation of the uniform principles as referred to in Article 29(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, the conclusions of the renewal report on pelargonic acid, and in particular Appendices I and II thereto, shall be taken into account. In this overall assessment Member States shall pay particular attention to: — the protection of groundwater, when the substance is applied in regions where vulnerable aquifers occur under predominantly alkaline soils; — the protection of aquatic organisms, non-target arthropods including bees and soil organisms. Conditions of use shall include risk mitigation measures, where appropriate. ( 1 )   Further details on the identity and specification of the active substance are provided in the renewal report. ( 2 )   Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 of 9 March 2012 laying down specifications for food additives listed in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( OJ L 83, 22.3.2012, p. 1 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/231/oj ).

ANNEX IISupplementary provisions

ANNEX II The Annex to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 is amended as follows: (1) in Part A, entry 230 on Fatty acids C7 to C20 is replaced by the following: No Common Name, Identification Numbers IUPAC Name Purity  ( 1 ) Date of approval Expiration of approval Specific provisions ‘230 Fatty acids C7 to C20 CAS No 67701-09-1 (Fatty acids C7-C18 and C18 unsaturated potassium salts) 124-07-2 (Caprylic Acid) 334-48-5 (Capric Acid) CIPAC No not allocated Caprylic Acid, Capric Acid (ISO in each case) Octanoic Acid, Decanoic Acid (IUPAC in each case) ≥ 838 g/kg fatty acids 1 September 2009 1 December 2026 PART A Only uses as insecticide, acaricide, and herbicide and plant growth regulator may be authorised. PART B For the implementation of the uniform principles as referred to in Article 29(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, the conclusions of the review report on fatty acids (SANCO/2610/2008), and in particular Appendices I and II thereof, as finalised in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, shall be taken into account. Conditions of use shall include, where appropriate, risk mitigation measures. ( 1 )   Further details on the identity and specification of the active substance are provided in the renewal report.’ (2) in Part B, the following entry is added: No Common Name, Identification Numbers IUPAC Name Purity  ( 2 ) Date of approval Expiration of approval Specific provisions ‘181 Pelargonic acid CAS No 112-05-0 CIPAC No 888 Nonanoic acid ≥ 889 g/kg Food grade quality as per specification E570 Fatty Acids in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012  ( 3 ) Residue on ignition: Not more than 0,1 % Unsaponifiable matter: Not more than 1,5 % Water content: Not more than 0,2 % (Karl Fischer method) Arsenic: Not more than 3 mg/kg Lead: Not more than 1 mg/kg Mercury: Not more than 1 mg/kg The following impurities are of toxicological concern and must not exceed the following levels in the technical material: — Hexanoic acid — Heptanoic acid — Octanoic acid Limit: Sum of three impurities < 50 g/kg 1 October 2026 30 September 2041 For the implementation of the uniform principles as referred to in Article 29(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, the conclusions of the renewal report on pelargonic acid, and in particular Appendices I and II thereto, shall be taken into account. In this overall assessment Member States shall pay particular attention to: — the protection of groundwater, when the substance is applied in regions where vulnerable aquifers occur under predominantly alkaline soils; — the protection of aquatic organisms, non-target arthropods including bees and soil organisms. Conditions of use shall include risk mitigation measures, where appropriate. ( 2 )   Further details on the identity and specification of the active substance are provided in the renewal report. ( 3 )   Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 of 9 March 2012 laying down specifications for food additives listed in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( OJ L 83, 22.3.2012, p. 1 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/231/oj ).’