A new investigation by Corporate Observatory Europe reveals how the pesticide industry and its allies have sought to weaken pesticide regulations and reduce human and environmental protections. Even after the 2024 elections, major polluters included a comprehensive proposal as a key demand in their “Antwerp Declaration”—a call to action aimed at eliminating “burdensome” social and environmental standards. This is also confirmed by the “Comprehensive Proposal for Food and Feed Safety.” Based on dozens of lobbying documents, the report reveals the behind-the-scenes machinations of these years. Here are some key points:
According to the analysis, the committee initially engaged with private stakeholders, including the pesticide industry, IBMA and IFOAM Europe, before expanding the process to include representatives of civil society, scientists and sectors such as water resources.
Moreover, this imbalance doesn’t end there. The co-rapporteur announced meetings, including with representatives of business and industry, but made no mention of meetings with civil society organizations or academics.
Demands put forward by pesticide companies, industry associations and agricultural organisations, including Bayer, BASF, the European Crop Producers Association and COPA-COGECA, include:
These demands are now reflected in the European Commission’s proposal, the European Parliament’s draft report and amendments proposed by Members of the European Parliament.
It is completely unacceptable that industry interests seeking relaxed pesticide regulations seem to succeed at the expense of safeguards designed to protect people, workers, biodiversity, water resources and the environment.
Will they allow this sweeping bill to become a tool for weakening pesticide regulations, or will they defend the level of protection that European citizens and the environment should enjoy?
Read also: Comprehensive report on food and feed prepared jointly by pesticide lobby groups | European Business Watch
© Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe), Address: Rue de la Pacification 67, 1000 Brussels, Belgium, Tel.: +32 2 318 62 55
The Pesticide Action Network (PAN Europe) gratefully acknowledges the funding provided by the European Union, the European Commission, the Directorate-General for Environment, and the LIFE programme. The authors are solely responsible for this publication, and the funding organizations accept no liability for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
Post time: Oct-12-2026
