Brussels, 28/03/2025 (Agence Europe) – PAN Europe deplored the fact that the revision of a guidance document aimed at protecting insects and other arthropods from the negative effects of pesticides, led by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), is being carried out without a “real insect expert”. On the other hand, according to the NGO, of the 11 members of the EFSA working group responsible for drafting the new directive, five have “previously supported EFSA policies that PAN Europe considers not to be in line with science”, three “still work closely” with the pesticide industry and four have published research “in partnership with this industry”. PAN Europe encourages the EU to protect arthropods, in a new manifesto. “Soil fertility and crop pollination” are at stake, “so the future of our farmers and our food security are at risk”, explained Lysiane Copin, from PAN Europe. (FS)