In a significant move, a coalition of 138 civil society organisations has issued a formal open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling for the robust implementation and defence of existing EU pesticide law. Dated 27 October 2025, the letter stresses that the health of citizens, biodiversity, and long-term food security depend on enforcing Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, rather than weakening it through proposed ‘simplification’ measures (Dermine, 2025).
The organisations, which include prominent bodies such as Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe), the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), FoodWatch, Greenpeace, and ClientEarth, argue that the regulation is a cornerstone of EU legislation designed to ensure a high level of protection for human and animal health, as well as the environment. They contend that ‘in light of overwhelming scientific evidence on the harmful effects of synthetic pesticides’, the focus must be on the regulation’s effective application.
Documented harms to human health and biodiversity
The coalition’s letter grounds its concerns in a substantial body of scientific evidence demonstrating the pervasive risks of synthetic pesticides. It highlights biomonitoring data from the EU-funded SPRINT research project, which confirms the continuous exposure of citizens, including children, to complex mixtures of pesticide residues through multiple pathways, including diet, water, and air (Dermine, 2025). The chronic, low-level exposure to these chemical mixtures is a key concern, with epidemiological studies linking it to an increased incidence of serious diseases. The letter specifically notes the elevated risks for agricultural communities, including ‘increased incidences of blood cancers, prostate cancer, and Parkinson’s disease’. The vulnerability of children is particularly stressed, with evidence pointing to cognitive disorders and developmental delays resulting from early-life exposure (van den Dries et al., 2023).
The environmental impacts are presented as systemic and severe. The letter cites the INSIGNIA-EU research project, which used honeybees as environmental samplers to demonstrate the widespread contamination of ecosystems with both legal and illegal pesticide residues. This contamination is identified as a primary driver of the ‘alarming rate’ of decline in insect and bird populations (Dermine, 2025). The cascade effect on ecosystem integrity is clear: for instance, pesticide drift has been shown to reduce wild plant diversity by over 50% near treated fields, thereby drastically reducing resources for pollinators and other wildlife. This erosion of biodiversity directly undermines the resilience of agricultural systems themselves, threatening essential services such as pollination, natural pest control, and soil fertility — a concern echoed in global scientific assessments (IPBES, 2019).
Critique of member State proposals and regulatory loopholes
The coalition expresses deep concern over recent proposals from several Member States that seek to extend transition periods for banned substances and broaden the use of emergency derogations under Article 4.7 and Article 53 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. The organisations argue that such measures ‘run directly counter to the purpose of the Regulation’ (Dermine, 2025).
They highlight that these loopholes are already being systematically abused, leading to a ‘persistent failure to properly implement the provisions of the Regulation’ (Dermine, 2025). Hazardous substances often remain on the market for years beyond their intended approval period due to delays in risk assessment and are frequently granted lengthy grace periods post-ban. The letter cites the example of flufenacet, an endocrine disruptor and PFAS substance, which remained approved for 11 years beyond its initial expiry and was granted an additional 18-month grace period despite contaminating groundwater.
A viable pathway: agroecology and integrated pest management
The signatories assert that synthetic pesticides are replaceable, as also highlighted in the recent INRAE report (Mora et al., 2023). They point to a body of scientific evidence and on-the-ground projects demonstrating that Europe can feed its population without relying on harmful chemicals. The alternative lies in agroecological farming and the ambitious implementation of integrated pest management (IPM), which works with nature to ‘enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, capture carbon, and build resilience’.
While acknowledging the Commission’s ‘Omnibus‘ initiative to simplify food safety legislation and facilitate market access for biological control substances, the coalition warns that this must not ‘result in any weakening of the protection standards’ (Dermine, 2025). They emphasise that the availability of alternatives must be coupled with measures to ensure the practical adoption of IPM, which remains poorly implemented across Member States despite being mandatory since 2014.
A call for leadership
The 138 organisations conclude with a clear demand: ‘The European Commission should uphold the Pesticide legislation, and serve EU citizens by focusing on the full implementation of its provisions’.
The letter serves as a powerful reminder that the political choice between upholding rigorous health and environmental standards or capitulating to pressure for deregulation has profound consequences for the future of Europe.
It is worth remembering that pesticide residues remain the leading food safety concern among European citizens, as highlighted in the latest Eurobarometer survey (EFSA, 2025).
Dario Dongo
Cover art copyright © 2025 Dario Dongo (AI-assisted creation)
References
- Dermine, M. (2025, October 27). Call to strengthen implementation of EU Pesticide Law to protect health and the environment [Open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen]. Pesticide Action Network Europe.
- IPBES. (2019). Summary for policymakers of the global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3553579
- Lechenet, M., Dessaint, F., Py, G., Makowski, D., & Munier-Jolain, N. (2017). Reducing pesticide use while preserving crop productivity and profitability on arable farms. Nature Plants, 3, 17008. https://doi.org/10.1038/nplants.2017.8
- Mora, O., Berne, J.-A., Drouet, J.-L., Le Mouël, C., Meunier, C., Forslund, A., Kieffer, V., & Paresys, L. (2023). European chemical pesticide-free agriculture in 2050: Foresight report. INRAE. https://doi.org/10.17180/ca9n-2p17
- Mouratiadou, I., et al. (2024). The socio-economic performance of agroecology: A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 44(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-023-00938-0
- Pe’er, G., et al. (2023). Scientists support the EU’s Green Deal and reject the unjustified argumentation against the Sustainable Use Regulation and the Nature Restoration Law. Science of The Total Environment, 885, 163692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163692
- Van den Dries, M. A., Guxens, M., Spaan, S., Ferguson, K. K., Philips, E., Santos, S., Jaddoe, V. W. V., & Longnecker, M. P. (2023). Prenatal pesticide exposure and child development of executive function and behaviour: A meta-analysis. Environmental Research, 227, 115709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.115709
- Van der Ploeg, J. D., et al. (2019). The economic potential of agroecology: Empirical evidence from Europe. Journal of Rural Studies, 71, 46-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.09.003
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
