LTO calls for faster approval of green crop protection products

The approval process for green crop protection products needs to move faster. That is the message from LTO Nederland, Glastuinbouw Nederland, NFO, KAVB, NAJK, BO Akkerbouw, and NAV in a joint letter to the Dutch House of Representatives. On May 12, Parliament will debate the European Food & Feed Omnibus Package. According to the organizations, the package is important for further improving the sustainability of agriculture and horticulture.

Availability under pressure

According to the organizations, existing crop protection products are currently disappearing faster than new alternatives are becoming available. The letter states that it can take up to ten years in Europe for new products to gain approval. As a result, the sector says there is a growing shortage of available alternatives.

The organizations write that this is causing “higher cultivation risks” and that “crops are disappearing from the Netherlands.” They also point to increasing pressure from diseases and pests, partly driven by climate change. According to the letter, the use of crop protection products remains necessary, including within resilient cultivation systems. The organizations say this also applies to the organic sector, where green products of natural origin are used.

More room for green products

Through the Food & Feed Omnibus Package, the European Commission aims to speed up the approval of green products. The proposal also includes additional assessment capacity at EFSA and the Ctgb. In addition, the Commission proposes modernizing the current reassessment system into a risk-based approach. That particular part of the proposal has sparked debate in the Netherlands.

In their letter, the organizations refer to recommendations from the Ctgb. The agency advocates for a system in which new scientific insights and risks are identified in a timely manner. The Ctgb also calls for a periodic work program for reassessments and stronger alignment between the assessment of substances and products.

Crop protection covenant

According to the organizations, the omnibus package is important for the upcoming crop protection covenant. Without enough available alternatives, they believe further sustainability agreements will be difficult to put into practice.

In addition to faster approvals, the parties are therefore also calling for extra investment in the research and development of alternatives for specific pests and crops.

Lto.nl