Biological control agents: MEPs want faster approval and authorisation procedures

For a more environmentally friendly and sustainable food system, MEPs call for faster approval and authorisation procedures for biological control agents.

On Tuesday, the Committees on the Environment, Climate Change and Food Safety and on Agriculture and Rural Development adopted an own-initiative report on ways to speed up the registration and uptake of biological control agents, by 97 votes for, 8 against and with 2 abstentions.

Faster approval of biological controls

The MEPs believe that biological control solutions can reduce dependency on conventional plant protection products. To boost their uptake, the report calls for a targeted revision of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 on the placing on the market of plant protection products. MEPs want a clear legal definition of biological control agents as well as faster approval and authorisation procedures. They also call on member states to increase and facilitate the use of the mutual recognition procedure for biological controls. The MEPs believe these measures would enhance legal certainty, foster investment in sustainable alternatives and prevent market fragmentation.

The MEPs underline that faster assessment and authorisation of biocontrol solutions must not lead to further delays in the risk assessment and authorisation of conventional plant protection products and that biological control agents must still be subject to rigorous scientific assessment.

Better support for biological control

The MEPs emphasise that both member states and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) need to invest more in assessment capacity. To speed up the approval of biological control agents, MEPs also call for priority lanes with dedicated additional funding.

The report underlines the need to maintain agricultural productivity and to ensure that farmers are not left without effective and affordable means to protect their crops. In this context it stresses that training, information and practical guidance on the effective use of biocontrol products must be developed in cooperation with farmers, highlighting the need for both public and private research and partnerships in the development of biological control.

Quotes

The rapporteur for the Environment, Climate Change and Food Safety Committee, Alexander Bernhuber (EPP, Austria), said: "Farmers need a broad and balanced toolbox to protect their crops effectively. The potential of biocontrol must be fully utilised, but this requires faster approvals and authorisations. Adequate funding for EFSA and national authorities is essential. The Commission must put forward a fit-for-purpose framework that enables innovation while ensuring safety and sustainability."

The rapporteur for the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, Anna Strolenberg (Greens, the Netherlands), said: “The broad support across political groups shows that Parliament is ready to take concrete steps towards innovation and sustainability in our food system. If we want to reduce dependency on chemical pesticides, farmers need accessible, safe, and effective alternatives. Biocontrol solutions can deliver that, if we give them the right framework to thrive.”

Next steps

Plenary is scheduled to vote on this draft resolution at its session on 24-27 November.

Background

There is growing demand for safer alternatives to conventional plant protection products, such as biological control agents, to achieve a more environmentally friendly and sustainable food system. A biological control agent is an organism, such as an insect or natural substance, that is used to control a pest or disease. The approval and authorisation of biological control substances and products currently fall under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 on plant protection products, while invertebrate biological control agents are not covered by EU legislation and are subject to diverse national rules.