November 2025
Brendan Moran attended the October Strasbourg plenary to discuss the upcoming own-initiative report on “Ensuring faster registration and uptake of biological control agents” with MEPs and APAs. Discussions were constructive, with strong support across EPP, S&D, Renew, and the Greens, particularly on the proposed amendment of paragraph 5b calling for the Commission to explore the possibility of a new standalone biocontrol regulation.
Confirming this support, the European Parliament Committees on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI), and Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) adopted a report on ‘Ensuring faster registration and uptake of biological control agents’ on 4 November 2025, with broad support across the political spectrum.
Among other measures, the report “calls on the Commission to look into the possibility in the longer term, of a new standalone biocontrol regulation including the conditions upon which a centralised approach may apply, to better tailor the assessment, approval and authorisation procedures for biocontrol solutions”.
This is a step in the right direction. The Biocontrol Coalition welcomes the current discussion around targeted amendments to Regulation (EC) 1107/2009 on plant protection products. Such amendments would provide much-needed, immediate relief to the biocontrol sector.
But it is not enough. Only a dedicated framework can provide the tailored evaluation procedures, streamlined processes, adaptability to climate change, and legal robustness the sector needs to continue to grow and serve Europe’s needs.
This is why the Biocontrol Coalition congratulates the committees on adopting such a forward-looking report, and invites the Commission to heed the call of the European Parliament.
Timely action to bring forward a fit-for-purpose, dedicated framework will send a clear signal to farmers and innovators that Europe is committed to addressing the concerns affecting our farmers, our industry and our climate.
The report will now go to the European Parliament’s plenary, where it is scheduled for adoption on 26 November.