According to the European Commission, the authorisation of biocontrol and biocides is still too slow. On 16 December, the European Commission therefore launched legislative proposals for faster authorisation of biocontrol, a collective term for biological and natural plant protection products.

By allowing biocontrol more quickly, growers will soon be able to grow even more sustainably. In addition, Brussels wants to promote the use of biocides (disinfectants). This will enable growers to ensure hygiene in their greenhouses by tackling harmful organisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses. Glastuinbouw Nederland welcomes these plans.

Chair Adri Bom-Lemstra of Glastuinbouw Nederland shares this concern: "European growers have significantly fewer green and innovative crop protection products at their disposal than their foreign competitors. This makes it increasingly difficult for them to compete with growers from outside the EU. With the new legislative proposals, the Commission wants to correct this situation. Brussels is finally daring to pave the way for what could be called a green revolution in horticulture."

Glastuinbouw Nederland has been campaigning for years for the accelerated authorisation of biocontrol. These efforts are now bearing fruit, as the Commission's proposals are closely aligned with the sector's recommendations. These had already been echoed in the European Parliament and the Council of Agriculture Ministers.

Faster authorisation of biocontrol

The European Commission wants to include biocontrol in EU legislation. This will allow Brussels to treat these products as a separate category, give them priority over the authorisation of regular plant protection products and thus arrange for faster authorisation. Until now, the EU has treated green and regular products in the same way. Bom-Lemstra: "This accelerated authorisation is sorely needed. In recent years, many plant protection products have been phased out, making profitable cultivation in Europe increasingly difficult. Biocontrol is a crucial step in the new systems thinking around plant health. The focus is on plants that are resistant to diseases and pests and on ecological balance rather than on “repairing with products”."

Expanding the staffing capacity at the European authorisation body EFSA should further contribute to this. EFSA assesses whether the active substances in biocontrol are safe for humans, animals and the environment. Only after EFSA approval can Member States decide whether specific plant protection products containing these substances may be used in greenhouses or in the field. The Commission proposes that EFSA assist Member States in the latter assessment if national authorisation authorities lack the capacity to do so.

‘The Commission is really opting for a European approach,’ notes Bom-Lemstra. ‘What is new is that this EFSA assessment will apply immediately throughout the EU and for an indefinite period. It will also mean that if one Member State authorises a particular product, it may also be used by growers in other EU countries. This will prevent unfair competition between growers in Europe.’

Getting biocides out of the doldrums

The European Commission is also concerned about the slow authorisation of biocides. These products combat harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses, for example, and ensure that water, irrigation pipes, greenhouses and tools remain clean. Since 2010, biocides have had to be approved, just like plant protection products. Due to a lack of capacity at national authorisation authorities, only half of the biocides have gone through this procedure fifteen years later. Bom-Lemstra: ‘This is a major problem. It threatens to eliminate basic products for hygiene in our greenhouses. The sector is waiting for the assessment of workable hygiene applications.’

Brussels is therefore urging EU Member States to speed up the authorisation process for biocides. The Commission is trying to help by authorising underlying active substances for an indefinite period. "Meanwhile, we see that Member States are threatening to ban biocides that have been in the authorisation process since 2010. To ensure the highest standards of hygiene in the cultivation of vegetables, fruit, flowers and plants in Europe, Brussels must provide for a transition period so that growers can continue to use these biocides until a final decision has been made," argues Bom-Lemstra.

European Parliament and ministers' turn

The Commission's plans still have to be discussed by the European Parliament and the Council of EU ministers. Glastuinbouw Nederland is in close contact with both EU institutions to ensure that growers can quickly use these green and innovative products in their greenhouses.

Source: Glastuinbouw Nederland