As highlighted in the Vision for agriculture and food, the EU Commission pursues a stronger alignment of production standards applied to imported products. As regards the most hazardous pesticides banned in the EU, the Commission has already established a principle that such pesticide residues are not allowed back to the EU through imported products.   

Concrete actions under this principle are:

• Launch of a study feeding into the impact assessment mentioned in the Vision for agriculture and food but the direction of travel is already clear.
• Proposal to amend the existing legal framework for the possibility of not allowing the import of products with residues of the most hazardous pesticides (food and feed safety omnibus). It has been reported that the Commission’s intention is to propose to approve the least hazardous pesticides and substances in an unlimited way, to consider avoiding burdensome renewals processes and propose time-triggered renewals, with much more targeted and more scientific procedures. In addition to fast-track the scientifically most advanced and environmentally least harmful plant protection products, namely biocontrol products most importantly to have faster processes as currently it takes 8-10 years for a new pesticide approval. There is a recognition that whenever the EU considers phasing out a product, there must be an alternative for farmers and that these alternatives are not only academically present, but available, effective, and affordable by the farmers, so that they have a real alternative on the ground.

The EU Commission intends to revise the EU system of approving MRLs or how to regulate reciprocity and are also looking at case-by-case approvals, looking substance by substance. 

A draft regulation lowering all maximum residue levels to the technical zero for active substances carbendazim, benomyl and thiophanate-methyl, following developments in international standards, and forbidding the import of products containing such residues. This is relevant for imports of citrus fruit, mango and papaya.  The EU is currently carrying out an internal consultation on placing three active substances to a technical zero and this proposal will be shared with member states shortly with the aim to approve in February. The three substances are — carbendazim, benomyl, and thiophanate-methyl. This means that practically from February these residues could be at zero.   

• The intention is also to improve import controls and the EU has already increased external checks by 50% this year. 

Please note the French government published a Decree (attached) on 7^th January banning five substances including the above three substances suspending the import, introduction, and marketing, in France, a transition period of  one month is foreseen and applicability for one year or until EU measures are adopted.  The substances included:

• Carbendazime and Bénomyl for Soybeans, Barley, Oats, Rye, Wheat (and other products).
• Glufosinate (only for potatoes)
• Thiophanate-méthyl  for Soybeans, Barley, Oats, Rye, Wheat (and other products).
• Mancozeb – for other commodities

For full details – please refer to the attached Official Decree and free translation in English for your information.

Gafta will keep members updated on further developments.