As the Food & Feed Safety Omnibus moves through the legislative process, one principle should guide the final shape of the reform: simplification must work across the entire crop protection toolbox.
Farmers rely on a combination of biological and conventional solutions, each with different roles, strengths and agronomic functions. One is not a replacement for the other. A resilient and competitive European food system depends on ensuring that all types of innovation can reach the field in a timely and predictable way.
Before meaningful simplification can happen, the system needs clarity on what it regulates. The Omnibus takes an important step by introducing a future-proof definition of biocontrol that reflects both current technologies and those still to come. This legal clarity can support innovation, improve consistently across Member States and helpavoid delays in the authorisation system.
It also provides the foundation for a simplification agenda that is coherent and fair across the full toolbox.
Rethinking how innovation reaches the market
The Omnibus offers a valuable opportunity to modernise the way new products are brought to market. One important area is provisional authorisation. Allowing provisional authorisations for all new active substances, not only biocontrol or low-risk products, would help accelerate access to safe and emerging innovations while maintaining strong safeguards.
When an EU-level decision is still pending, practical extensions of provisional authorisations can help prevent sudden expiries. Avoiding abrupt stops gives farmers more certainty when planning the season and helps authorities manage products responsibly and efficiently.
Unlocking the full potential of mutual recognition
Mutual recognition is another part of the system with significant untapped potential. In principle, it should allow products authorised in one Member State to be recognised in another with similar agronomic conditions, reducing duplication and supporting the Single Market. In practice, inconsistent national requirements often create delays and fragmentation.
Automatic or tacit recognition mechanisms can improve predictability and trust. To deliver real value, these tools should apply across all types of innovation, not only certain technology categories. Only then can mutual recognition fulfil its intended role: reducing duplication, building coherence and supporting faster access to the tools farmers need.
Toward a balanced, innovation-friendly system
The Omnibus represents a rare opportunity to reshape the system in a way that supports both innovation and high protection. For it to succeed, the simplification agenda must be balanced and inclusive, enabling progress across the full range of crop protection solutions.
Farmers do not work with one class of tools; they work with a toolbox. A reform that strengthens that toolbox through better timelines, less duplication and fair access to innovation is a reform that strengthens European agriculture itself.
To learn more about our our views on enabling innovation click here for our position paper