European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič has ruled out a horizontal framework for 'minimum mirror measures' that would make EU market access conditional on compliance with production standards equivalent to those in the bloc, instead favouring a case-by-case approach. In a written answer on 2 July 2026 to a parliamentary question by Renew MEP Yvan Verougstraete, Šefčovič signalled that the Commission will continue to introduce targeted production and processing method requirements for imports in specific sectors, such as pesticides and animal welfare, while respecting international trade obligations. The answer confirms that the EU already requires imported agri-food products to meet EU health and safety standards, and in some areas goes further by imposing production method requirements, for example on antimicrobials, maximum residue levels for pesticides harmful to bees, and animal welfare rules on stunning and slaughter. Šefčovič pointed to the Commission's 2025 Vision for Agriculture and Food, which aims to better align EU and imported product standards, especially on pesticides and animal welfare, and noted that the Commission is currently assessing new measures in these areas. However, he explicitly rejected the idea of extending CE marking to cover production conditions, stating that CE marking is a manufacturer's self-declaration under EU product legislation and not a guarantee of compliance, and that the Commission has no plans to broaden its scope. The answer provides no timeline for the proposed new measures on pesticides and animal welfare, nor does it commit to a systematic introduction of production method requirements across the agricultural sector. The Commission's approach remains fragmented and sector-specific, leaving EU producers exposed to competition from imports produced under less stringent standards. The answer primarily reaffirms existing policy and offers limited concrete new commitments, disappointing stakeholders seeking a level playing field. The Commission's cautious stance balances the protection of EU standards with the need to avoid trade disputes, but offers little immediate relief to domestic producers facing competitive disadvantages.
Source✉ Open answer ↗
Asked byYvan Verougstraete (Renew)