The European Commission has presented a new package of measures aimed at streamlining and simplifying European Union legislation on food and feed safety, with the objective of reducing administrative burdens, strengthening the competitiveness of the agri-food sector and facilitating innovation, while fully maintaining the EU’s high standards on food safety, animal health and environmental protection.
This cross-cutting initiative affects key areas of the food chain, including plant protection products and biocides, feed, official controls, animal health and welfare, and imports. According to Commission estimates, the proposed simplifications could lead to savings of more than €1 billion in compliance costs for businesses and public administrations.
Fewer administrative burdens, same high standards
The legislative package seeks to reduce unnecessary costs and administrative complexity without lowering the EU’s strict requirements on food and feed safety. Together with other recent simplification initiatives, the Commission is progressing towards its objective of cutting administrative burdens by at least 25%, and by up to 35% for small and medium-sized enterprises, before the end of the current mandate.
For the meat and agri-food sector, this approach provides a more agile, predictable and coherent regulatory framework, supporting business planning, investment and the uptake of innovative solutions.
Boosting innovation and sector competitiveness
The Commission expects these measures to particularly benefit farmers, livestock producers and food and feed businesses by improving access to innovative and sustainable inputs. Among other aspects, the proposal foresees faster authorisation procedures for environmentally friendly products and simplified rules for feed additives and fermentation-based products.
Key measures included in the proposal
The main actions proposed include:
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Faster market access for biopesticides, ensuring farmers have a full range of tools for crop protection.
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More targeted, efficient and quicker renewal procedures for pesticides and biocides.
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Progress towards harmonising production standards for imports, especially regarding pesticide residues, to ensure a level playing field.
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Reduced requirements for the renewal of feed additive authorisations and the digitalisation of their labelling.
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Easier market access for fermentation products, supporting innovation in food and animal nutrition.
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Simplified accreditation rules for official laboratories.
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A more pragmatic approach to border controls for plant products.
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Adaptation of monitoring and risk-mitigation requirements related to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in line with scientific evidence.
Next steps
The Commission notes that these measures respond to repeated requests from Member States and sector stakeholders for clearer, more efficient and more consistent procedures. The legislative proposal will now be examined by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union for discussion and possible adoption.
Background
This food and feed safety simplification package is the tenth omnibus proposal presented since the start of the current mandate and forms part of the Vision for Agriculture and Food, presented by the Commission in February 2025. Its aim is to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of farmers and food and feed businesses by removing overlapping or disproportionate rules that hinder innovation and growth in the EU.
