The European Parliament's joint ENVI-AGRI committee on 5 May 2026 debated the Commission's food and feed simplification package, revealing a clear divide between those welcoming the proposed changes as overdue efficiency gains and those warning they undermine the precautionary principle. The Commission framed the package as evidence-based simplification to cut backlogs and speed approvals while preserving health and environmental protection.
Paolo Inselvini (ECR) and Herbert Dorfmann (EPP) broadly welcomed the package, while Biljana Borzan (S&D), Martin Häusling (Greens/EFA), and Anya Hazekamp (The Left) argued it undermines the precautionary principle. On unlimited renewals, Dorfmann and Jessica Polfjard (EPP) supported ending periodic reassessment for most substances, but Borzan and Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (Renew) warned of outdated approvals. Faster innovation for farmers was backed by Inselvini and Carmen Crespo Diaz (EPP), while Häusling and Hazekamp called for phasing out hazardous pesticides.
Biocontrol prioritisation saw broad support but disagreements on definitions, with Häusling warning of loopholes. Drones for precision agriculture were widely welcomed, though Polfjard criticised the slow timeline. Mirror clauses and import tolerances split speakers: Inselvini and Carlo Fidanza (ECR) demanded automatic bans for banned substances, while the Commission insisted on case-by-case impact assessments. Mutual recognition and one-zone logic were broadly endorsed, with Crespo Diaz questioning practical implementation.
Consensus emerged on faster biocontrol access, addressing backlogs, drone use, stronger harmonisation, and preventing imports from undercutting EU standards. Next steps: a joint report could be ready by June. Affected stakeholders include farmers, pesticide producers, biocontrol innovators, food importers, and environmental groups.