The European Commission wanted many substances in pesticides to be approved without a fixed end date from now on. Currently, such substances have to be re-evaluated after a few years. According to the Commission proposal, only when new scientific information provides cause would an interim assessment still be necessary in the future.
After 15 years
The EU countries consider that change to go too far. They want an initial approval of a maximum of fifteen years for most substances. Substances and products considered low risk can be approved indefinitely.
That still eases the rules. The changes aim to make procedures simpler and faster, reduce the workload for government agencies, and offer farmers and businesses more certainty.
Promotion
Warning
There is opposition to that approach. More than five hundred scientists and doctors have warned against parts of the reform. They fear that risks to humans and the environment sometimes only become clear after a pesticide has been used for a longer time. Even with longer approvals, reassessment must therefore remain possible.
At the same time, the EU countries want stricter rules for certain pesticides used outside Europe. These concern hazardous substances that are not allowed within the EU but residues of which can remain in imported food and animal feed.
Fewer residues
For residues of banned substances, the allowed amount of residues in import products must be virtually zero. This does not mean that food treated with such a pesticide outside the EU is automatically banned. The decisive factor is how much of the substance is ultimately detected in the imported product.
This approach may affect agricultural producers outside the EU. Exporting countries must ensure that products intended for the European market comply with the much stricter limit values. The new rules have not yet been finalized. The European Parliament still has to determine its position, after which negotiations with the EU countries will follow.