The recent approval of the Biocontrol INI Report and the conclusions of the event held at the European Parliament consolidate a more favorable policy and regulatory framework for biocontrol solutions. These developments represent a decisive step towards a more sustainable and efficient agriculture, aligned with Biocontrol Technologies' mission.
New political impetus for biocontrol in Europe
The European Parliament has approved the Biocontrol Non-Legislative Initiative Report (INI), a document that marks a turning point in the European strategy to accelerate access to plant protection tools of biological origin. This approval, welcomed by IBMA, confirms strong political support for a more agile and scientific registration system adapted to the needs of resilient agriculture in the European Union.
The favorable vote sends a clear message to the European Commission in the process of revising and simplifying Regulation (EC) 1107/2009: Europe needs to move quickly to ensure that farmers have natural, safe and effective alternatives to pests and diseases, in a context of increasing climate and regulatory pressure.
Key regulatory advances to accelerate biocontrol availability
The Biocontrol INI Report introduces a number of measures that lay the groundwork for a faster authorization system tailored to the specificities of biological products. Among the most salient elements are:
–A clear definition of biocontrol, focused on substances of natural origin or identical to them when synthesized.
– The reintroduction of provisional authorizations, allowing low-risk products to reach the market earlier.
– The exploration of a centralized evaluation system at the European level, which would avoid regulatory duplication between Member States.
– Simplified label extensions for minor uses, a key aspect for specialty crops.
– More agile and automatic mutual recognition between member states.
– Extension of authorization periods, including the possibility of indefinite approvals for biocontrol active substances.
– Reinforcement of EFSA’s resources, ensuring faster evaluations and no backlog of dossiers.
Together, these measures represent a more coherent, modern and science-based framework to support biological solutions that, like T34 Biocontrol® or RootDei Biocontrol®, help reduce chemical dependency and promote more sustainable agriculture.
Biocontrol in organic farming: specific needs and regulatory coherence
A few days later, the event “Biocontrol in organic: managing plant health with complementary practices”, organized at the European Parliament by IFOAM Organics Europe, FiBL and IBMA, reinforced the importance of accelerating the availability of biocontrol in both organic and conventional agriculture. During the meeting, it was stressed that the current approval system is too slow and limits the ability of European farmers to implement safer and environmentally friendly control strategies.
The speakers agreed that:
– Acceleration of biocontrol registration should focus exclusively on biological solutions, without relaxing the requirements for hazardous chemicals.
– The EU must ensure regulatory consistency: speed up access to low-risk products and maintain high standards of environmental and health protection.
– Biocontrol tools must be aligned with the Organic Production Regulation, avoiding additional delays between authorizations at EU level and their use in organic farming.
– The integrated agronomic approach is fundamental: biocontrol can only unfold its full potential in systems where soil and ecosystem health is considered the basis of phytosanitary management.
A framework aligned with the vision of Biocontrol Technologies
The announced policy and regulatory developments reinforce Biocontrol Technologies’ mission: to provide scientifically robust, safe, natural microorganism-based tools that enable farmers and technicians to meet the challenges of modern agriculture without compromising soil health and biodiversity.
Simplification of the authorization system and better regulatory alignment with organic farming will allow innovations such as those of Biocontrol Technologies to become available more quickly in Europe, contributing to a real transition towards more sustainable and competitive production models.
Future prospects
The convergence between political will, scientific evidence and industry demand points to a scenario in which biocontrol will play a central role in plant protection. Both the Biocontrol INI Report and the recent event at the European Parliament confirm that Europe is moving towards a more modern, effective and favorable regulatory framework for biological solutions.
Biocontrol Technologies will continue to work with institutions, distributors and farmers to accompany this transition, providing innovation, scientific rigor and solutions that contribute to a more sustainable, productive and resilient agriculture.
