(Adnkronos) – The Council of the European Union has defined its position on the remaining part of the “Omnibus X” simplification package, as announced in a press release. The objective of the package, on which co-legislators intend to reach an agreement with the European Parliament by the end of the year, is to reduce unnecessary costs and administrative burdens, while maintaining high standards for food and feed safety and for the protection of human health, animal health, and the environment. This negotiating mandate particularly concerns regulations on maximum residue limits (MRLs), plant protection products, and biocides.
Regarding pesticide residues in imported products, the Council confirms the principle of lowering MRLs to “technical zero” for particularly dangerous substances, following an impact assessment. These are substances no longer usable in the EU because they can, for example, cause cancer, be toxic for reproduction, or alter the endocrine system. The text also extends the scope to substances whose conditions of use entail unacceptable risks for bees or groundwater. Transitional provisions remain possible for products complying with old limits, to avoid food waste.
Regarding plant protection products, the mandate provides for an accelerated procedure for biocontrol substances, which will have priority in evaluation. Low-risk substances and products containing them will have unlimited approvals and authorizations. For other substances, with exceptions, approval increases to 15 years for the first time and 25 years for renewals, while the protection of tests and study reports goes from 10 to 13 years for the first authorization of ordinary products and from 13 to 15 years for low-risk ones. Finally, it is expected that data will flow into a new EU-level database.
To balance the longer approvals, the text introduces stronger guarantees: the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will have to conduct a periodic review of scientific literature and monitoring data. A more cautious treatment is also foreseen for substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction of category 2.
Regarding biocides, the Council maintains approvals with expiry dates, but with a duration of 15 years for initial approvals and 25 for renewals. For feed, the proposal eliminates systematic renewal for most authorized additives and allows digital labeling. On GMOs, the mandate clarifies that fermentation products obtained with genetically modified microorganisms are not food or feed produced from GMOs, requesting Commission guidelines to reduce residues of these microorganisms.
The mandate follows the adoption of a regulation extending data protection periods for biocides and the Council’s negotiating position on new rules for the sustainable use of pesticides, both having occurred last May. As the text explains, the Irish Presidency of the EU Council will initiate negotiations with the European Parliament as soon as it has adopted its position.
