Material and Methods Legal supportEuropean pesticides database: The raw data were retrieved from the European pesticides database. This database lists all the substances approved as well as those not approved and those where an approval is pending [19]. Directives and regulations: Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009[20] is the main and original document dealing with plant protection products (PPP) and substances (pesticides) since 2009. Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 [17] is the main companion of the PPP regulation as regards the list of approved active substances. Following, Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 [21] manages the rules on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food as well as plant and animal feed.