Under aerobic, viable conditions the metabolism of tembotrione (AE 0172747) was shown to proceed via loss of the cyclohexane dione moiety to form the benzoic acid M6 (AE 0456148, maximum occurrence in the lab 72.4% of AR by 14 DAT). The carboxylic acid function of M6 (AE 0456148) is subject of further conversion into the phenol type component M1 (AR 0968400, max 14.9% of AR by 30 DAT). The formation of the methyl phenol metabolite M7 (AE 1124336, max 8.7% of AR by 182 DAT) could be explained by methylation of the phenol M1 (AR 0968400). This metabolism of tembotrione (AE 0172747) is driven by microbial processes. In contrast to experiments with four EU soils, the carboxy benzylic alcohol M2 (AE 1392936) was additionally observed in two US soil at maximum amounts of 5.0% of AR over an incubation period of 179 days. This metabolite results from a hydrolysis at the ether bond (1,1,1-trifluoroethyl moiety) of the benzoic acid M6 (AE 0456148). The increase of M2 (AR 1392936) in one of the two US soils from 179 DAT onwards to a maximum occurrence of 23.9% of AR by 270 DAT is mainly attributed to the reduced microbial biomass and is not considered relevant for further risk assessment. From results of all other degradation rate studies (one US soil, four EU soils) and from results of six representative field studies (not detected > LOD) it can be concluded that M2 (AE 1392936) is unlikely to exceed 5% of AR in viable soils. The occurrence of non-extractable residues (maximum 20-41% of AR using Ph label and 19-26% of AR using (Cy-He label) is in line with a significant formation of 14CO2 (13-55% of AR using Ph label and 37-77% of AR by 120 DAT using Cy-He label). Formation of 14CO2 was generally more pronounced using Cy-He labeled tembotrione (AE 0172747) indicating a lower persistence of the cyclohexane moiety in comparison to the phenyl moiety.