Europe's Food Security Threatened by Restrictive Regulations
Translated from Polish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- EU regulations on plant protection products are among the world's most restrictive, with nearly 90 active substances withdrawn since 2019 and no new ones approved.
- Experts argue that the focus on reduction and elimination of tools needed for effective agricultural production must shift to ensure food security.
- There is a call for deregulation and simplification in agriculture, but current progress remains largely declarative.
The European Union's stringent regulations on plant protection products are increasingly jeopardizing Europe's food security. As highlighted by Anna Zalewska, Advocacy Manager at BASF Polska, the EU has withdrawn nearly 90 active substances since 2019 without approving any new ones. This restrictive approach, which prioritizes reduction and elimination of tools essential for farmers, directly undermines the ability to maintain effective agricultural production and guarantee food security.
The EU system for regulating plant protection products is one of the most restrictive in the world. Since 2019, almost 90 active substances have been withdrawn, and no new substance has been approved.
Zalewska emphasizes that farmers require a range of active substances to combat pests, diseases, and the challenges posed by changing weather and climate conditions. The current policy, focused on eliminating these vital tools, is counterproductive. While there is much talk of deregulation and simplification, these promises often remain just that – declarations without tangible action.
We should move away from this approach of reducing and eliminating tools that are necessary for farmers for effective agricultural production, which will ensure our food security.
From a Polish perspective, this situation is particularly concerning. Agriculture is a cornerstone of our economy and national identity. We understand the need for responsible environmental stewardship, but the EU's current trajectory risks creating a dependency on imports and weakening our domestic agricultural sector. The disconnect between the stated goals of supporting farmers and the actual implementation of policies that restrict their capabilities is a critical issue that needs urgent attention. We must advocate for a balanced approach that supports both sustainable farming practices and robust food production to ensure the resilience of our food supply.
Such a tool is a range of active substances that enable the farmer to fight pathogens, diseases, changing weather, or climate.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Rzeczpospolita in Polish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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