New rules are being adopted to reduce the use of chemical pesticides and support sustainable food systems.
The European Commission has adopted new rules to increase the availability and access to organic plant protection products in the Member States. The goal is to support the European transition to sustainable food systems and the reduction of chemical pesticides. The new rules will facilitate the authorization of microorganisms for use in plant protection products. In addition, they will offer EU farmers the replacement of chemical plant protection products with sustainable options.
The transition to more sustainable food systems implies the need to find alternatives to chemical pesticides that respect our planet and our health. The Commission has pledged to facilitate this process by increasing the number of organic and low-risk alternatives on the market: since the beginning of our mandate we have already approved 20 low-risk alternatives. Thanks to these new rules, we will ensure that organic alternatives can reach our farmers even more quickly. The more we collectively invest resources in evaluating plant protection products, the more safe alternatives we will have to deliver on our commitment to reduce the use of chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030.
Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
The new legislation will assess the biological and ecological properties of each microorganism by verifying the risk. The new rules are intended to speed up the authorization of microorganisms and plant protection products contained. The rules were approved in February 2022, but will apply from November 2022.
- From producer to consumer: new rules to speed up the authorization of biological pesticides (italy.representation.ec.europa.eu)
