EU governments back longer pesticide approval periods

EU governments agreed a negotiating position on the food and feed safety package on 30 September. It covers plant protection products, pesticide residue limits and biocides, but the changes still need to be negotiated with the European Parliament. [1]

Under the Council’s position, most plant-protection active substances would be approved initially for 15 years and, after reassessment, for 25 years, subject to exceptions. The current standard periods are 10 and 15 years respectively. Low-risk substances and products containing them would be eligible for approvals and authorisations without a fixed expiry, while biocontrol substances would receive priority in assessments. [1] [5]

The Dutch pesticide regulator, Ctgb, warned in June that longer intervals could weaken protection without countermeasures. The Council’s September position includes periodic reviews of scientific literature and monitoring data by the European Food Safety Authority. It also proposes lowering residue limits to ‘technical zero’ for certain particularly hazardous pesticides in imported food and feed, following an impact assessment; temporary arrangements could apply to products that met the previous limits. [6] [1]