Stricter rules for pesticides in imported food

On 18 September 2024, the European Parliament rejected two proposals from the European Commission that would have allowed small amounts of pesticides, banned in the EU, to be present in imported food. This decision ensures that food safety regulations remain strict.

The Commission’s proposals would have permitted residues of pesticides like cyproconazole and spirodiclofen to be present in products such as grains, seeds, meat, and liver. Both substances are already banned in the EU due to health risks. However, Parliament voted against the proposals, believing that these pesticides should not be present in imported food either.

Same rules for all products

Parliament emphasised that food produced outside the EU must comply with the same strict regulations as EU-produced goods. Allowing higher levels of these pesticides in imported food could pose a health risk to consumers in both Europe and the producing countries. The European Commission is now expected to introduce new proposals to ensure that pesticide levels in food, including imports, remain as low as possible.

Europarl.europa.eu