{"id":10322,"date":"2026-11-04T13:58:04","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T12:58:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/?p=10322"},"modified":"2026-11-04T15:39:39","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T14:39:39","slug":"pesticides-food-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/pesticides-food-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Healthy food starts with healthy farming. Europe must protect both"},"content":{"rendered":"
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We all want to know that the food on our plates is safe. That the apples we give to our children, the vegetables we buy at the market and the bread we eat every morning are good for our health.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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We also want farmers to earn a fair living, protect their crops and grow the food we need. And we want a food system that works with nature, not against it.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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This is our vision: a Europe where healthy food is the easy choice, where farmers have access to safer ways to protect their crops, and where our health and environment come before the profits of the pesticide industry.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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But this vision is at risk.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The European Commission wants to change the rules that control pesticides in Europe. Its proposal, called the Food and Feed Safety Omnibus, is presented as a way to simplify the approval and control of pesticides.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Yet some of the proposed changes could make it easier for harmful pesticides to remain on the market for longer, while reducing the checks that protect people and nature.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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We need a better system, not weaker protections.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Why pesticide rules matter for the food we eat<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>
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Pesticides are chemicals used to protect crops against insects, weeds and plant diseases. They can help farmers manage pests, but they can also have serious effects on human health and the environment.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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People can be exposed to pesticides in different ways. Farmers and agricultural workers may come into direct contact with them while working. Nearby communities can be exposed through pesticide drift. And consumers can come into contact with pesticide residues through food and water.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The effects depend on the substance, the level of exposure and how often someone comes into contact with it.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Some pesticides can cause immediate health problems, such as skin irritation, headaches or nausea. Exposure to certain substances has also been linked to more serious health concerns, including neurological disorders and some cancers.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Pesticides can harm more than human health. They can pollute water and soil, damage ecosystems and kill insects and other wildlife that are important for healthy farming.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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This matters to all of us. Healthy food does not begin in the supermarket. It begins in the soil, in the fields and in the way we grow our crops.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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What is the Food and Feed Safety Omnibus?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>
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The European Commission has proposed a package of changes to EU rules on food and feed safety, including the system used to approve and control pesticides.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The Commission says the changes will simplify procedures and reduce administrative work.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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But simplification is not always an improvement.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The current system requires pesticides to undergo scientific assessment before they can be approved for use. Their approval is also reviewed regularly, so new scientific evidence can be considered and risks can be reassessed.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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This is important because science does not stand still. New research can reveal risks that were not known when a substance was first approved.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The proposed changes could weaken some of these safeguards.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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In particular, they would make it possible for certain pesticide approvals to last indefinitely, broaden the conditions under which banned pesticides can be used in exceptional cases, and extend the time during which pesticides can remain available after their approval ends.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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These changes may sound technical. But they have very real consequences for the food we eat, the environment around us and the people who work in agriculture.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\n \"Straswberries\"\n
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What is at stake for consumers?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>
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Imagine buying fresh strawberries for your family. You expect them to be safe. You do not want to have to research every chemical used to grow them or understand the latest changes in pesticide approval rules. That is why food safety cannot depend only on individual choices. It needs strong public rules, reliable scientific assessments and effective checks.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Consumers should be able to trust that the food they buy meets high safety standards.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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If pesticide approvals become less frequent or harmful substances remain on the market for longer, the system could become slower to respond to new evidence of risk.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The proposed changes could also affect consumer confidence. People have a right to know that the food they eat is produced under strong safety standards. This includes knowing that pesticides are properly assessed, that emerging risks are taken seriously and that harmful substances are removed when necessary.

Food safety is not a luxury. It is a basic part of protecting public health.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\n Large-scale use of pesticides is linked to many neurological disorders, various types of cancer and autoimmune diseases. If adopted, this proposal would seriously weaken the safeguards of EU\u2019s pesticide rules and bring unacceptable risk to people\u2019s health and the environment. We need to start prioritising people over profits and invest in an alternative and better agriculture system that will be safe for people and the environment.\n