The European Commission has unveiled its Food and Feed Safety Omnibus, a comprehensive initiative aimed at empowering farmers by expanding their options for crop inputs, particularly through innovative biological products. This effort seeks to streamline bureaucracy and expedite authorization processes.

Key Changes Proposed

The Commission’s proposals include simplifying and accelerating the approval and renewal procedures for these products, transitioning from time-based renewals to a more dynamic system triggered by emerging scientific concerns. Additionally, the initiative aims to bolster mutual recognition, facilitating easier cross-border authorizations within the EU.

While the Commission asserts that the proposed changes focus solely on procedural improvements—and do not compromise safety standards—health and consumer organizations have voiced significant concerns.

Concerns from Health Organizations

SAFE, a European NGO dedicated to food safety, has warned that the new proposals could weaken public health protections. Secretary General Floriana Cimmarusti stated, “Simplification cannot mean deregulation. This legislation is too generic and weak, leaving open the possibility of industry-led research dominating scientific assessments.”

The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) further criticized the proposals as “health-threatening,” expressing fears they might delay crucial phase-outs of harmful substances linked to cancer and other serious health issues. Genon K. Jensen, HEAL’s executive director, emphasized that this strategy offers a “free pass” to many harmful substances.

Industry Perspectives: Advocating for Modernization

In stark contrast to health advocates, crop protection companies have endorsed the new proposals, claiming that the current regulatory framework has hindered innovation. CropLife Europe reported that no new conventional active substances have been approved in the last six years, while the number of withdrawn substances exceeds 80.

Olivier de Matos, director general of CropLife Europe, stated, “More cannot be achieved with fewer tools. The Omnibus will modernize EU regulations, allowing innovative solutions to be quickly utilized while maintaining high safety standards.”

The European Crop Care Association (ECCA considered the initiative a significant stride towards addressing inefficiencies in existing regulations.

Voices from Bayer

Bayer positioned the Omnibus as a “timely opportunity” for modernizing EU regulation, stating that it could better allocate resources towards innovative scientific assessments. However, Bayer highlighted potential risks in changes to maximum residue limit (MRL) rules, cautioning that these could introduce unwarranted trade barriers.

Potential Impacts on Biocontrol Registration

Certis Belchim, a Netherlands-based crop protection company, argues that the proposals could significantly reduce registration times for biocontrol products—potentially halving the current 7-10 years required in Europe. Head of Sustainability and Public Affairs, Ronan Goff, expressed optimism about a much-awaited EU-wide definition of biocontrol products, which may streamline assessments.

Next Steps for the Legislation

As Europe grapples with increasing pressures from pests, diseases, and climate change, the need for innovative solutions grows more urgent. The legislative proposal will now be debated by the European Parliament and Council, with its outcome likely to shape the balance between innovation, competitiveness, and health protection in the crop protection sector for years to come.