Analysis by Générations Futures, a member of the PAN Europe network, shows that 49 synthetic pesticides would receive unlimited approval if the Commission’s omnibus proposal enters into force on 1 January 2027. The list includes toxic and widely used substances such as glyphosate and acetamiprid. This confirms the NGO's warnings that the Commission’s omnibus proposal on Food and Feed Safety will strongly lower the level of protection for citizens and the environment.
On 16 December 2025, the European Commission presented its proposal for a Food and Feed Safety ‘Omnibus’ package, introducing a series of measures that would significantly weaken existing pesticide rules [1].
A major change would make unlimited approval periods the norm for active substances, while limited approvals would apply only in exceptional cases. The Commission has not provided a clear list of the substances that would be granted unlimited approval. To address this lack of clarity, Générations Futures conducted its own analysis. The results show that concerning substances would be concerned.
Nevertheless, the European Commission appears to have some information on the substances affected by these new rules, as indicated by the estimated savings for industry and administrations presented in the working document accompanying the Omnibus proposal [2]. For example, the Commission expects savings of €176,100 for acetamiprid, €605,500 for glyphosate, and a total of €16,844,125 in savings on renewal procedures for substances whose approval expires between 2033 and 2035. Générations Futures and PAN Europe are highly concerned that, in order to cut costs, the European Commission proposes to abandon the periodic review of such substances with mounting scientific evidence on their toxicity.
Pauline Cervan, toxicologist at Générations Futures, warns: “If this list of substances is confirmed, it would be a very serious threat to the health of Europeans and the environment. With unlimited approvals and no longer subject to the renewal procedure, it will be even more difficult to make science heard and ban these substances if they pose an unacceptable risk.”
Salomé Roynel, Policy Officer at PAN Europe, comments: “This analysis makes clear the serious risks of unlimited pesticide approvals. For instance, Acetamiprid would be given an unlimited approval, despite the regular new scientific evidence showing this neonicotinoid is a threat to fœtuses and babies because of its neurotoxicity. Likewise, Folpet, a widely used fungicide linked to Parkinson's disease, would no longer be reassessed every 15 years. The Commission proposal it taking us decades back in terms of health protection.”
Générations Futures has written to the Commission requesting confirmation of the list and further clarification of the proposal.
For more information, see the Générations Futures full list of 49 substances, the press release, and their letters to the Commission HERE (all in English at the bottom of the page).
Press contacts:
- Pauline Cervan, Toxicologist, Générations Futures: pauline [at] generations-futures.fr
- Salomé Roynel, Policy Officer, PAN Europe: salome [at] pan-europe.info
Notes:
[1] Position paper: ‘Food and feed safety omnibus’ threatens EU pesticide rules
