The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has amended the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Regulation, EU 64/2012, to add 27 pesticides and eight industrial chemicals into Annex I, bringing the total to 295. As a result, EU exporters are now required to notify their intentions to export them from 1 November onwards.

The European Commission (EC) is proposing a Regulation that will impose legally binding targets to reduce the use of chemical pesticides by 50% from the average level consumed in 2015-17 by 2030. This is part of the Farm to Fork Strategy objective of delivering “a fair, healthy and environmentally respectful food system”.