The “120-day derogation” is a rule in EU pesticide legislation that allows Member States (MS) to use non-authorized pesticides. The authorizations are granted directly by MS on the basis of a danger, which cannot be controlled by any other means. Last year, PANEurope published a report on the use of this derogation over the period that spanned from 2007 to 2010, showing an explosion in the number of authorizations. More than one year after the first report, the question is: was there any improvement? PAN-Europe analyzed the use of this derogation during 2011. We observed a decrease of 30% in the number of authorizations compared to 2010, but with numbers remaining on a very high level when compared to previous years. France, Portugal and Greece are the top derogation granters with 32, 30 and 21 each. Around 75% of the authorizations were for products listed in Annex 1 (approved for some use); however, several derogations were granted for banned products many of which repeatedly over the years for the same active substances. Examples of these products are dichloropropene, an illegal pesticide and a genotoxic substance used in huge quantities or dichlorvos, another illegal pesticide, with harmful neurotoxic properties. Alternatives are readily available but there is no control if member states even considered them. Furthermore, the fact that so many derogations are repeated points to a lack of development of alternative measures. PAN-Europe perceives that the entire process lacks transparency and urges the Commission to take a more pro-active role. PAN-Europe believes it is essential to make publicly available detailed information on the granted derogations and on the use of alternatives. Taking in consideration that many authorizations are granted for the same active substances over the years, the Commission also needs to exert a higher control on why alternative measures are not being used or developed. This is even more important when the new Common Agriculture Policy, set for 2014, introduces Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as a mandatory practice for farmers.