The extensive use of azole fungicides, particularly in some agricultural and horticultural practices, can increase the risk of Aspergillus fungi developing resistance to essential antifungal treatments.

For the first time, the five EU health and environment agencies – ECHA, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), European Environment Agency (EEA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) – supported by the JRC, reviewed how the use of azole substances outside human medicine affects public health.

The joint report highlights that their broad use outside human medicine, particularly in agriculture, contributes to the risk of Aspergillus becoming azole-resistant. Exposure to certain environments where azole fungicides are used or present, such as agricultural and horticultural waste and freshly cut wood, can potentially increase the risk of infection with azole-resistant Aspergillus spp.