Tehran - Iran’s Plant Protection Organization has removed the insecticide Oxydemeton-methyl from the national list of approved pesticides, citing serious health and environmental risks.

 

According to a resolution passed by the organization’s Pesticide Supervision Board on October 12, 2025, the product - commercially known as Metasystox EC 25% and produced by Bayer CropScience (Germany) - has been banned due to its high toxicity to humans, animals, and pollinators.

 

Officials said the decision followed a comprehensive scientific and environmental review aimed at updating the list of authorized pesticides. Studies found the compound posed acute toxicity to mammals, caused reproductive and developmental harm, showed neurotoxic effects, and presented high leaching potential as well as significant risks to birds, honeybees, and other pollinators.

 

The organization added that safer alternatives will be identified and approved to manage sap-sucking pests in crops including cereals, tobacco, cotton, sugar beet, soybeans, pistachios, fruit trees, and elm.