On Tuesday 25 November in Strasbourg, the European Parliament will vote in favour of strengthening the European regulatory framework for biological control agents.
According to the report (https://aeur.eu/f/jmm ), there is an urgent need to bridge the gap between the rapid withdrawal of chemical pesticides and the slow introduction of sustainable alternatives.
European Parliament will be calling for a clear legal definition of biological control and an accelerated approval process at EU level. It will also call for avoiding market fragmentation, reducing administrative burdens, and ensuring rigorous scientific assessment in accordance with the precautionary principle.
MEPs are calling for a targeted revision of Regulation 1107/2009 (pesticides), to create faster procedures, including secure provisional authorisations and enhanced mutual recognition between Member States. They propose extending the approval period for certain substances presenting a low or negligible risk to up to 25 years.
Parliament is urging the Commission to develop a European biocontrol strategy, improve training for farmers, strengthen the capacities of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and national authorities, and support research in order to provide producers with a more complete toolbox to face future phytosanitary challenges.
Furthermore, MEP Yvan Verougstraete (Renew Europe, Belgian) denounced the European Commission’s intention, according to the proposed simplification of the rules (see EUROPE 13757/3), to grant unlimited authorisations for most of the active substances in pesticides. In his view, this is a scientific and health setback. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)