EU moves to simplify feed, animal health and pesticide safety requirements

EUROPE – European Union member states have agreed on a negotiating position to simplify several food and feed safety regulations, including rules affecting animal health, livestock record-keeping and the use of pesticides, as part of the bloc’s wider effort to reduce administrative burdens while maintaining high safety standards.

The agreement forms part of the EU’s “Omnibus X” legislative package, a broader simplification initiative designed to streamline regulations across sectors including feed, animal health, official controls and plant protection products.

The proposal, approved by the Council of the European Union, seeks to remove overlapping requirements and make compliance more efficient for farmers, feed operators and agricultural businesses without weakening protections for human, animal or environmental health.

Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European Affairs of Cyprus, said the package would help simplify rules while preserving the EU’s high standards.

“Today we deliver on the second proposal within the food and feed safety package, paving the way for simpler and more cost-efficient rules regarding the sustainable use of pesticides, record-keeping, and the use of plastics in the food industry,” she said.

Changes target livestock record-keeping and farm operations

For the livestock sector, one of the most significant changes involves record-keeping requirements for farmers.

Current EU legislation requires livestock producers to maintain records of veterinary treatments administered to animals, as well as of mortality rates within herds and flocks. 

However, similar obligations already exist under the EU Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation and the Animal Health Law.

To eliminate duplication, the Council has backed proposals removing overlapping reporting requirements, reducing administrative workloads for livestock producers while retaining the information already collected under existing animal health frameworks.

The package also includes amendments to the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive, which could indirectly affect feed crop production across Europe.

Under current rules, aerial pesticide application is largely prohibited, though exemptions may be granted in specific circumstances. 

The proposed changes would facilitate the use of agricultural drones for targeted pesticide application when risks are considered equal to or lower than those of conventional ground-based spraying methods.

The Council’s position supports maintaining existing derogations while creating additional provisions for approved drone technologies. 

The proposal also calls for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to develop guidance covering both pesticide risk assessments and operational requirements for drone-based applications.

Member states would be permitted to authorise drone use under transitional arrangements while awaiting the adoption of a formal EU delegated act defining approved drone categories and operating conditions.

The simplification package also proposes repealing two outdated directives governing plastic materials intended for food contact, replacing them with the more recent regulatory framework already established under a 2011 EU regulation. 

Officials said the move would improve legal clarity and reduce regulatory complexity for food and feed businesses.

The latest agreement follows the European Council’s call in October 2024 for accelerated action to improve competitiveness and reduce regulatory burdens across the bloc.

The Council will now continue discussions on the remaining elements of the Omnibus X package before entering negotiations with the European Parliament. 

EU institutions aim to complete work on all simplification packages by the end of 2027.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.