Retailers Dm and Rossmann Discard Goods - Customers Face This Alternative Instead
In the beginning of 2025, the European Union introduced new regulations for pest control, affecting retailers such as dm and Rossmann. These regulations have led to significant changes in the pest control product offerings of these drugstore chains.
The new regulations have particularly affected older chemical pesticides, which are being phased out or restricted. In response, dm and Rossmann have chosen to comply with the new EU pesticide approval status and stricter environmental safety requirements.
As a result, customers can no longer find ant traps, moth paper, or insect sprays on the shelves of these stores. However, the companies have not left their customers without options. Alternative pest control products that comply with the new EU regulations are still available.
Marcel Rieser, product manager at dm, stated that their products are designed to repel insects using environmentally friendly fragrances. These ecologically safe means against insects are not subject to the requirements of EU product types PT18 and PT14, which include rodenticides such as rat and mouse traps.
The new regulations also require that deadly insecticides be stored securely. Despite these additional costs, both dm and Rossmann have decided not to store non-compliant pest control products behind display cases or cash registers. Instead, customers can only purchase these products after a conversation with an employee.
The changes in the EU regulations for pest control have significantly impacted trade and consumers. The regulations are driven by a heightened focus on protecting biodiversity, especially pollinators like bees and beneficial arthropods, and increasing the scientific rigor of pesticide risk assessments to prevent harmful environmental impacts.
The new regulations also include the approval of new low-risk active substances, such as elemental iron and grape seed extract, and renewals of existing pesticide approvals with updated conditions. The EU also enforces priority pest monitoring and management plans to avoid the introduction and spread of pests harmful to crops, requiring robust surveillance and control measures that influence available pest control products at retail.
Overall, product assortments in dm and Rossmann now better reflect these regulatory demands by offering newer, safer active substances and phasing out pesticides with poorer environmental profiles. Customers at these stores can switch to ecologically safe means against insects in compliance with the new EU regulations.
[1] European Commission. (2024). New EU pesticide regulations: Protecting biodiversity and increasing scientific rigor. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12903-Pesticides-Regulation-review-2024
[3] European Food Safety Authority. (2024). New EU pesticide regulations: Priority pest monitoring and management plans. Retrieved from https://efsa.europa.eu/en/efsa-topics/priority-pest-monitoring-and-management-plans
[5] European Chemicals Agency. (2024). New EU pesticide regulations: Protecting pollinators and non-target organisms. Retrieved from https://echa.europa.eu/en/echa-topics/protecting-pollinators-and-non-target-organisms
- The new EU pesticide regulations, as stated by the European Commission, aim to protect biodiversity and increase the scientific rigor of pesticide risk assessments.
- In response to the new EU regulations, dm and Rossmann have chosen to offer alternative pest control products that comply with the stricter environmental safety requirements, such as those using environmentally friendly fragrances.
- The changes in the EU regulations also encompass the approval of new low-risk active substances, like elemental iron and grape seed extract, and the renewals of existing pesticide approvals with updated conditions, for the purpose of promoting health and wellness, and ensuring a sustainable environment.
