The European Union is set to relax pesticide regulations following lobbying efforts by major chemical manufacturers and agricultural organizations, according to documents obtained through freedom of information requests. The European Commission’s proposed changes seek to reduce regulatory burdens on farmers and improve the bloc’s global competitiveness, but critics warn this may come at the expense of environmental and health protections.

Currently, active substances used in pesticides undergo a mandatory reassessment every 15 years to ensure ongoing safety. The Commission’s draft legislation, introduced in December under the Food and Feed Safety Omnibus law, proposes eliminating these periodic reviews. The aim is to cut what the EU describes as “unnecessary administrative costs and burdens for agrifood producers.”

Internal meeting records reveal that the revised pesticide approval process aligns closely with industry demands. German chemical firm Bayer and the agricultural lobby group Copa Cogeca lobbied for an “unlimited” approval mechanism, effectively removing the scheduled reassessments for pesticide substances. While Copa Cogeca declined to comment on the matter, Bayer stated its support, citing the positions as important from both agro-economic and scientific perspectives.

The Commission’s move is part of a broader initiative to streamline regulations to enhance the competitiveness of European businesses versus those in the United States and China. However, critics argue that such deregulatory steps undermine the EU’s environmental policies and commitment to its green agenda, potentially weakening safeguards intended to protect human health and ecosystems from the risks posed by pesticide use.

The proposed changes exemplify the tension between regulatory simplification and maintaining stringent environmental standards, highlighting the challenges the EU faces in balancing economic growth objectives with sustainability goals. The final outcome of the legislative process is expected to have significant implications for the future governance of pesticide use within the European Union.