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The European Commission has recently presented a new Food and Feed Safety Simplification Package, a major initiative aimed at modernising EU legislation while safeguarding high standards of consumer, plant, and environmental protection. One of the most relevant elements of this package for plant-health research and the potato sector is the Commission’s clear intention to accelerate the authorisation of biological pesticides and other low-risk plant protection tools.
A faster path for biological pesticides
The simplification package introduces a more streamlined approach to the regulation of pesticides and biocides, with a particular emphasis on products with favourable safety profiles. The Commission highlights the need for faster and more efficient procedures, clearer data requirements, and a reduction of unnecessary administrative steps. These measures are designed to ensure that innovative biocontrol solutions can reach the market more quickly, while continuing to meet the EU’s rigorous scientific standards.
This shift is especially relevant for crops such as potatoes, where growers increasingly face pest pressures that evolve faster than new control options can be authorised and deployed.
Improved official controls
In parallel with changes to pesticide and biocide procedures, the simplification package also includes proposals to strengthen official controls. These include more streamlined laboratory accreditation processes and more pragmatic border procedures for plant and plant-product consignments. The objective is to reinforce plant health protection while reducing delays and administrative burdens, ensuring that Europe’s surveillance and control systems remain both effective and efficient.
Relevance for PATAFEST
For the PATAFEST project, which focuses on strengthening Europe’s preparedness for emerging potato pests, these proposed changes are highly relevant. As pest pressures evolve under climate change and increasing global trade, the availability of effective and rapidly deployable biological control tools becomes increasingly important, particularly in contexts where conventional plant protection products are limited or no longer available.
Faster authorisation procedures for biological pesticides can support more responsive pest management, help maintain robust integrated pest management strategies, and contribute to ensuring that EU phytosanitary standards continue to be met. This aligns closely with PATAFEST’s work, which includes testing and developing natural plant protection solutions that can contribute to more resilient and sustainable potato production systems in the future.
For further information on the proposed measures, see the European Commission’s website.