Commissioner Várhelyi, in a written answer on 1 July 2026, signalled that Romania has indicated it will align with EU rules on neonicotinoid-treated seeds, while the Commission has presented a new draft guidance document on emergency authorisations. The answer, responding to a question from Greens MEP Nicolae Ștefănuță, affects pesticide producers, farmers, environmental NGOs, and EU regulatory bodies.
The Commission sent a letter of formal notice to Romania in November 2025 for granting emergency authorisations for banned neonicotinoids, in breach of Regulation (EC) 1107/2009 and the Court of Justice ruling C-162/21. Romania replied on 7 December 2025, stating its intention to amend its practice and comply. The Commission is now monitoring the situation before deciding on further steps.
On the guidance document, Várhelyi announced that a new draft was presented for discussion at the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed on 29-30 June 2026. The draft covers only technical aspects of applications and assessments; the Commission plans to issue a separate Notice setting out its interpretation of the Court ruling. This addresses the MEP's concern that the guidelines had remained 'under review' for two years.
Regarding other Member States, the Commission has sent a mandate to EFSA in November 2025 to assess repeated emergency authorisations for 1,3-dichloropropene, diquat, and cyanamide, with results expected in the second half of 2027. Based on that, the Commission may take steps to prevent further repetition, as it did for Romania and Lithuania in 2020. Várhelyi noted that abamectin and cypermethrin remain approved in the EU.
The answer provides concrete timelines for the EFSA assessment and the new guidance draft, but leaves the infringement procedure against Romania open pending compliance. The Commission's approach balances enforcement with technical assessment, delaying any immediate action against other Member States.