Health and environmental organisations have warned that proposed European Union reforms to pesticide and biocide regulation could weaken protections for public health and lead to higher long-term costs.
The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) has criticised elements of the European Commission’s food and feed deregulation ‘omnibus’ proposal, arguing that it would significantly alter the EU’s existing system for approving and reviewing pesticides and biocides. According to the group, the changes risk reducing the role of independent scientific evidence in regulatory decisions.
Among the measures raising concern is a proposal to allow unlimited approvals for many active substances used in pesticides and biocides. HEAL also warns that the reforms could restrict the ability of EU member states to take new scientific findings into account when assessing products. In addition, substances already identified for phase-out on health grounds could remain in use for longer periods under the proposed framework.
Under current EU rules, active substances are subject to scientific review every 10 to 15 years, enabling regulators to consider emerging evidence on health and environmental impacts. Health groups say this process has been essential in removing harmful chemicals from the market, including chlorpyrifos, which has been linked to adverse effects on children’s brain development.
Similar concerns have been raised about proposed changes affecting biocides, which are designed to act on living organisms and can pose risks to human health and the environment. HEAL argues that speeding up regulatory processes should focus on improving assessments and rejecting incomplete applications, rather than extending approvals indefinitely.
The alliance also questions the economic rationale behind deregulation, noting that societal and health costs linked to pesticide exposure in the EU were estimated at around €2.3 billion in 2017. HEAL is urging EU member states and Members of the European Parliament to reject the proposals and maintain existing commitments to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals.
Genon K. Jensen, Executive Director of HEAL, said: ‘These foreseen deregulatory changes blatantly ignore science and will put people’s health at risk. Already today, EU pesticide and biocide laws lag behind the latest science. Instead of strengthening protection, the EU Commission’s plan to roll back the current regular review of authorisations would amount to a free pass for most substances, without assessing the impacts on people’s health.
‘This would further increase the risk of serious health effects, including cancers and neurodevelopmental or behavioural disorders. Health groups call on member states and members of the European Parliament to reject these health-threatening proposals.’
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