The President of the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER, President Geum Hanseung) under the Ministry of Environment announced on November 10 that the Institute is urgently approving eight neonicotinoid insecticides (dinotefuran*) for use in controlling bedbugs.* It is an insecticide ingredient that has already been registered and approved for use in the US and Europe, and it has also received approval for use in South Korea for purposes such as mosquitoes, flies, and cockroaches.

Recent research both domestically and internationally has revealed that the newly emerged bedbugs have developed resistance to the pyrethroid-based insecticides that have been used safely for bedbugs. As a result, their effectiveness has diminished.

Therefore, on November 7, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency requested urgent approval for additional insecticides to prevent the spread of bedbugs. The NIER quickly examined whether the insecticides known to be relatively less resistant than the existing pyrethroid-based ones, both domestically and internationally, could be used for bedbug control.* Relevant regulations: Article 10 (6) of the Chemical Products Safety Act, and Articles 5 and 6 of the Regulations on Approval, etc., of Hazardous Chemical Products for Consumer Use (Notification of the National Institute of Environmental Research)

On November 7, the NIER discussed the possibility of urgent approval for neonicotinoid insecticides with experts. On November 9, the institute held a meeting with the manufacturers of these products to their willingness to participate, production capacity, and the availability of raw materials, ultimately deciding to grant urgent approval.

The neonicotinoid insecticides that have been granted urgent approval are already approved and used for pest control purposes against mosquitoes, flies, and cockroaches. In addition to their effectiveness against bedbug resistance, the decision to grant urgent approval was based on the fact that their safety for human health and the environment had already been verified during the approval process.

The eight products granted urgent approval this time are all approved for use by professional pest control operators only, and household (healthcare) insecticides are excluded from this urgent approval.

This decision reflects the opinions of experts who believe that household insecticides, which are typically used in everyday life without protective gear, may have a higher potential for exposure. Therefore, they require more rigorous safety verification compared to preventative insecticides.

However, the NIER has immediately initiated follow-up approval procedures, including safety verification, to allow the use of neonicotinoid insecticides for household purposes. The institute also plans to promptly explore another insecticide with lower resistance for potential approval.

The list of insecticide products for infectious disease prevention granted urgent approval will be made available on the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency website (www.kdca.go.kr) and the NIER website (www.nier.go.kr). The effective period for the urgent approval of bedbug control is from November 10 of this year and will last for one year.

Geum Hanseung, the President of the NIER, stated, “Chemical pest control for pests can inevitably lead to resistance issues and can impact human health and the environment.” He emphasized, “Be sure to prioritize physical methods such as steam and high-temperature treatment, vacuum cleaning, and only use chemical pest control (insecticides) in a minimum amount and in essential areas while strictly adhering to the method, dosage, and precautions to prevent exposure to humans.”* The bedbug insecticide is a direct spray product, and it is essential to strictly adhere to the following precautions: Prohibit spraying in the air. Prohibit use for fumigation, smoke generation, or smudging purposes. Prohibit using it on clothing, bedding, mattresses, or bed linens that come into direct contact with the human body.

Attachment List of previously approved bedbug insecticides and urgently approved bedbug insecticides