The European Commission’s newly announced ‘Food and Feed Safety Simplification Package’ attempts to walk a fine political tightrope. By aiming to deliver €1 billion in savings through faster approvals and reduced red tape, the 16 December proposal seeks to appease a restless agricultural sector. However, the proposal will also encounter resistance from civil society, whose representatives argue that the push for ‘efficiency’ risks weakening the rigorous oversight mechanisms that safeguard European biodiversity and public health, with particular regard to the regulation of pesticides and other plant protection products.
The newly proposed food and feed safety package adopts a horizontal approach, simplifying rules and procedures across multiple areas of EU legislation. The package encompasses regulations governing plant protection products, biocidal products, feed additives, official controls, and animal health and welfare. This integrated strategy ensures coherent reforms across the entire food chain, from farm to fork.
The financial implications of these simplifications are substantial. The Commission estimates that the measures could generate annual savings of over €428 million for EU businesses and €661 million for national administrations. Notably, administrative savings alone are projected to reach €939 million annually, divided between business operators and public authorities.
Maintaining high standards while reducing bureaucracy
A fundamental principle underpinning the proposal is that simplification must not compromise safety. The European Commission has emphasised that the EU’s rigorous requirements for food and feed safety, health protection, and environmental safeguards will remain fully intact. The package focuses on eliminating unnecessary administrative procedures, duplicative requirements, and outdated processes rather than weakening substantive safety standards.
This initiative forms part of the Commission’s broader commitment to reduce administrative burdens by at least 25% overall – and at least 35% for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – before the end of the current mandate. Together with the automotive omnibus and medical devices simplification proposals announced simultaneously, the EU has now accumulated approximately €14.3 billion towards its target of €37.5 billion in administrative savings.
Key measures: from bio-pesticides to border controls
The food and feed safety package introduces several targeted reforms designed to accelerate market access for innovative products whilst maintaining robust oversight, as outlined below.
Accelerated approval for bio-pesticides
One of the most significant measures involves expediting procedures for bio-pesticides, ensuring that farmers have access to a comprehensive toolbox of crop protection options. The reforms are specifically designed to incentivise the adoption of more environmentally friendly plant protection products, enabling quicker market entry for sustainable alternatives to conventional pesticides. This aligns with the EU’s broader environmental objectives whilst providing farmers with effective pest management solutions.
Streamlined renewal procedures
The package proposes making renewal procedures for both pesticides and biocides more targeted, efficient, and faster. Current renewal processes have been criticised for their length and complexity, often creating uncertainty for manufacturers and users. The new approach will maintain thorough safety assessments, according to the European Commission, while eliminating redundant steps and delays in its view unnecessary.
Level playing field for imports
In line with the Vision for Agriculture, the Commission is working towards aligning production standards for imports regarding pesticide residues. This initiative, based on an ongoing impact assessment, aims to ensure fair competition between EU producers and third-country suppliers. The measure addresses long-standing concerns from European farmers about regulatory asymmetries that can disadvantage domestic production.
Feed additive authorisation reforms
The proposal eases the obligation to renew feed additive authorisations, recognising that many established products have demonstrated long-term safety records. Additionally, the package includes provisions for digitalising labelling for feed additives, modernising information management and reducing administrative burdens associated with physical labelling requirements.
Market access for fermentation products
Recognising the growing importance of biotechnology in food production, the package facilitates market access for fermentation products. This category includes innovative ingredients produced through precision fermentation, a technology increasingly viewed as crucial for sustainable food systems. Simplified approval pathways could accelerate the availability of novel protein sources and other fermentation-derived ingredients.
Laboratory accreditation and official controls
The measures simplify accreditation rules for official laboratories, reducing bureaucratic requirements whilst maintaining technical competence standards. The package also applies a more pragmatic approach to border controls for plant products, targeting resources more effectively towards genuine risks rather than routine checks that provide limited additional safety benefits.
Science-based BSE requirements
In a welcome update aligned with scientific evidence, the proposal adapts bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) surveillance and risk mitigation requirements. Decades of effective control measures have dramatically reduced BSE risks in Europe, allowing for more proportionate monitoring protocols that reflect current epidemiological realities.
Responding to stakeholder calls for reform
The food and feed safety package responds directly to repeated calls from Member States and stakeholders for faster, clearer procedures in food and feed legislation. The Commission has conducted extensive evaluation work to identify regulatory bottlenecks and disproportionate requirements. Farmers’ organisations, food industry representatives, and national competent authorities have all highlighted the need for more streamlined processes that maintain safety while reducing unnecessary complexity.
The proposal is particularly significant for agricultural producers, who are expected to benefit from greater choice of inputs, especially regarding innovative and sustainable products. Faster approval pathways for new technologies and reduced renewal burdens should enhance competitiveness and resilience in the agricultural sector.
A key deliverable from the Vision for Agriculture
This package represents a key deliverable from the Vision for Agriculture and Food presented by the Commission in February 2025. That strategic document outlined the Commission’s commitment to helping farmers and food businesses become more competitive whilst addressing environmental and social challenges. The simplification measures directly fulfil the Vision’s promise to reduce regulatory burdens that hamper innovation and economic performance.
As the 10th omnibus proposal since the start of the mandate, the food and feed safety package demonstrates the Commission’s systematic approach to regulatory fitness. By targeting overlapping, unnecessary, or disproportionate rules across multiple legislative frameworks, the initiative aims to create a more coherent and efficient regulatory environment without undermining Europe’s high legislative standards.
Next steps: Parliamentary and Council review
The legislative proposal has now been submitted to the European Parliament and the Council for adoption. Both institutions will examine the package thoroughly, potentially proposing amendments before final approval. Given the broad support for simplification among Member States and stakeholders, and the Commission’s careful approach to maintaining safety standards, the package is expected to progress through the legislative process, albeit with possible refinements.
The implementation timeline will depend on the pace of legislative negotiations, but the Commission has signalled its intention to achieve swift adoption to deliver tangible benefits to businesses and administrations in the near term. Once adopted, the measures will require transposition into national law by Member States, with technical guidance to ensure consistent application across the EU.
Interim conclusions
The food and feed safety simplification package exemplifies the potential for smarter regulation – reducing bureaucracy and costs whilst maintaining the high standards that underpin consumer confidence in European food products. By eliminating unnecessary procedures and accelerating access to innovative technologies, the EU is positioning its agricultural and food sectors for enhanced competitiveness in global markets.
With over €1 billion in projected savings and meaningful improvements for farmers, food businesses, and public administrations, the package represents a significant step forward in creating a more efficient regulatory framework. As the proposal moves through the legislative process, stakeholders across the food chain will be watching closely, hopeful that this initiative delivers on its promise of simplification without compromise.
Expected challenges from environmental and consumer groups
However, the package is likely to face scrutiny from environmental organisations and consumer advocacy groups, particularly regarding the streamlined renewal procedures for pesticides. Civil society organisations have historically expressed concerns that accelerated approval processes might compromise the thoroughness of safety assessments or reduce opportunities for public consultation. The Commission’s assertion that high standards will be maintained will need to be demonstrated through transparent implementation of the new procedures. The civil society has already argued that pesticide regulations should be strengthened rather than simplified, citing persistent concerns over biodiversity loss, pollinator health, and human exposure to chemical residues (Dermine, 2025). The legislative debate in Parliament and Council will likely see these diverging perspectives surface, requiring careful balancing between competitiveness objectives and precautionary principles that have long underpinned EU environmental policy.
Ultimately, the success of this initiative will be measured not merely by cost savings or processing times, but by its ability to reconcile efficiency with the environmental and health protection that European citizens expect. The coming months will reveal whether the Commission’s vision of simplified yet robust regulation can satisfy both agricultural producers seeking relief from bureaucracy and civil society demanding unwavering vigilance on pesticide safety.
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. https://www.pan-europe.info/sites/pan-europe.info/files/public/resources/Letters/Letter_28102025_138 organisations calls for better implementation of the Pesticide Regulation.pdf
- European Commission. (2025, December 16). Simpler food and feed safety rules: Commission proposes package to streamline and simplify food and feed safety legislation (Press release No. IP_25_3081). European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_3081
- European Commission’s Communication. A Vision for Agriculture and Food Shaping together an attractive farming and agri-food sector for future generations. COM(2025) 75 final. 19 February 2025 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0075
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
