EU unveils major overhaul to food and feed safety rules

The European Commission has launched a sweeping legislative package aimed at cutting red tape across the food and feed sectors, promising to save businesses and national governments over €1 billion annually.

The proposal seeks to modernize a wide array of regulations—spanning from animal welfare and plant protection to official controls—without compromising the European Union’s famously rigorous safety and environmental standards.

This "Food and Feed Safety" package represents the 10th "omnibus" proposal of the current mandate. It is a central pillar of the Commission's goal to slash administrative burdens by 25% across the board, and by 35% for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Of the projected €1.1 billion in annual savings:
• €428 million will stay in the pockets of EU businesses.
• €661 million will be saved by national administrations through streamlined enforcement and oversight.

The measures are designed to provide farmers with a more robust and innovative "toolbox" for food production. A primary focus is the acceleration of market access for bio-pesticides, allowing more environmentally friendly alternatives to reach the fields faster.

Other critical measures include:
• Faster pesticide renewals: Making the renewal process for biocides and pesticides more targeted and efficient.
• Leveling the playing field: Aligning production standards for imported goods regarding pesticide residues to ensure fair competition for EU farmers.
• Digital innovation: Easing the authorization of feed additives and shifting toward digital labeling.
• Fermentation innovation: Facilitating easier market access for fermentation products.
• Streamlined logistics: Applying a more pragmatic approach to border controls for plant products and simplifying laboratory accreditation.

The Commission also plans to update surveillance requirements for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) to better reflect current scientific data, reducing unnecessary oversight where risks have diminished.

The proposal is a direct result of the Vision for Agriculture and Food presented in February 2025, which prioritized the resilience of the European food chain. The legislative package now moves to the European Parliament and the Council for review and eventual adoption.

Source:

European Commission