Despite strong warnings from scientists and civil society, the European Commission today confirmed its proposal to introduce open‑ended approvals for certain pesticides. This represents a significant weakening of the EU pesticide legislation, at a moment when chemical-dependent agriculture is harming farmers, ecosystems and public health.
A leaked draft published in late November showed the Commission initially considering unlimited approval and authorisation for up to 90% of approved active substances, capturing not only biological control but also synthetic toxic substances, such as carcinogenic glyphosate and neurotoxic acetamiprid. [1] This proposal triggered strong mobilisation by EU citizens, civil society organisations and scientists, who raised serious concerns and urged the Commission to abandon the proposal altogether.
Following this backlash and intense internal negotiations, the Commission scaled back its approach in the proposal presented today. Targeted re-assessment would now be required for substances where uncertainties or data gaps have emerged from their risk assessment, in addition to substances approved as ‘candidates for substitution’. Moreover, the Commission would be required to identify active substances or groups of active substances with unlimited approval periods for which a renewal procedure shall be conducted, while this remained optional in the leaked draft versions.
However, even in its revised form, the proposal continues to undermine key pillars of EU pesticide law.
“Strong citizens' mobilisation led the Commission to take a step back from the extreme option to grant open-ended approval to nearly all pesticides. While we welcome this, it’s clearly not enough to ensure protection from harmful pesticides. This proposal remains heavily influenced by demands from the pesticides' industry. The first victims of this rollback of health and environmental protection will be farmers and rural communities, who are chronically exposed to toxic pesticides,” said Martin Dermine, Executive Director of PAN Europe.
“Scientific developments consistently reveal that the impact of synthetic pesticides extends far beyond the target organisms, including humans. By abandoning the reassessment requirements the Commission is asking society to accept harm first and evidence later; an approach that contradicts both science and the precautionary principle,” said Angeliki Lysimachou, Head of Science and Policy.
Additionally, the proposal:
- Restricts Member States from using the latest scientific evidence in the assessment of pesticide products, contradicting a recent EU court ruling.
- Broadens derogation criteria, making it easier for pesticides that do not meet safety standards to be approved on the market, by allowing approval not only for plant health emergencies but also for plant production needs.
- Extends grace periods for banned dangerous pesticides by allowing banned pesticides to be used for up to three years, but only from existing stocks and only where no viable alternatives exist.
- Eases the review of previously approved substances to allow them to be reclassified as low-risk.
- Introduces a broad definition of biological control substances that encompasses not only naturally derived compounds but also engineered analogs designed to mimic them, which may possess distinct molecular structures and, consequently, different toxicity profiles or ecological impacts.
- Introduces the possibility for Member States to grant a general derogation from the ban on aerial spraying, for certain types of drones. This is problematic as aerial spraying must remain subject to individual authorisations and derogations, given associated risks, in particular from spray drift.
“Taken together, these changes will hamper the identification of the hazardous properties for a series of substances and allow them to remain on the market longer, even after risks are known,” said Salomé Roynel, Policy Officer.
Last week, a scientific statement signed by specialists in health, toxicology, and ecology, was sent to the EU Commission urging it to abandon plans to weaken the pesticide regulation. [3]
PAN Europe calls on the European Parliament and Member States to block this rollback of decades of gradual improvements in the regulation of pesticides. Instead, priority should be given on improving and accelerating the implementation of existing rules. Europe urgently needs policies that support farmers in transitioning away from hazardous pesticides, not reforms that lock them in chemical dependency for decades to come.
Notes
[2] EUR-Lex - 52020DC0208 - EN - EUR-Lex
[3] Scientific Statement on Pesticides in the Omnibus
Contacts
- Salomé Roynel, Policy Officer, +32 451 02 31 33, salome [at] pan-europe.info
- Angeliki Lysimachou, Head of Science and Policy, +32 496 39 29 30, angeliki [at] pan-europe.info
- Martin Dermine, Executive Director, +32 2 318 62 55, martin [at] pan-europe.info
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