An independent scientific assessment commissioned by the Dutch Parliament concludes that the proposal to simplify the rules on food safety will not achieve the European Commission’s stated objectives.
Presented to Dutch MEPs on Wednesday 22 April, these conclusions echo long-standing warnings from the NGO PAN Europe, according to which the Commission’s plan would reduce costs for the pesticide industry at the expense of public health and nature conservation.
According to the scientists, the proposal will achieve neither its objective of reducing administrative burden nor that of speeding up authorisations, particularly for biocontrol products.
The report identifies several major risks. In particular, it points out that the text will not create a level playing field between old and new substances, and will not encourage innovation. It would shift responsibility for demonstrating the harmlessness of substances from industry to public authorities, thereby weakening the precautionary principle.
The experts also warn that certain dangerous substances could remain on the market for longer as a result of authorisations being granted for unlimited periods and the abolition of compulsory periodic re-evaluations.
Further details (in Dutch): https://aeur.eu/f/lnl (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)