Square de Meeûs 35, 1000 Bruxelles
Brussels, 10 December 2025 – Today, IFOAM Organics Europe, FiBL and IBMA, the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association, organised the event ‘Biocontrol in organic: managing plant health with complementary practices’ in the European Parliament, a few days before the publication of the Food and Feed Safety omnibus. The event, hosted by MEP Madjouline Sbai, addressed the organic approach to biocontrol and its specific needs.
“The current EU approval system for biocontrol is far too slow, meaning European farmers, organic or conventional, do not have biocontrol products already widely used by farmers in the rest of world. Organic farmers are pioneers of biocontrol using it extensively and these delays in registration are limiting their pest and disease control choices.’’ explained Jennifer Lewis, Executive Director of IBMA.
In February 2025, the European Commission recognised these challenges in its Vision for Agriculture and Food. They announced specific measures for biocontrol by amending the plant protection products Regulation (EC) 1107/2009 through the Food and Feed Safety omnibus.
For MEP Madjouline Sbai, who hosted the event, “Biocontrol offers farmers real, safer alternatives to chemical pesticides, and Europe must accelerate access to these solutions. But speeding up low-risk biocontrol cannot become an excuse to weaken safeguards for hazardous chemicals. We need coherent policies: fast-track the safe options, and keep strong protections for health and the environment.”
This was also highlighted during the event by Eric Gall, Deputy Director of IFOAM Organics Europe: “Policymakers’ discussions on adjusting risk assessment and approval processes for biocontrol substances are welcome, but they should be limited to biocontrol solutions only, and should not be extended to synthetic pesticides. Legislative developments should follow the approach taken by MEPs in their own-initiative report, which kept the debate clearly focused on biocontrol. This clarity is essential for more consensual and effective decision-making and to ensure that the necessary measures are implemented.”
During the event, several key measures were discussed:
- A clear EU-wide definition of biocontrol, distinguishing biocontrol from conventional pesticides.
- Acceleration of approval and authorization of biocontrol active substances and their products to prioritize biocontrol, such as provisional authorizations, waive the renewal process for biocontrol PPPs unless there is a scientific need and facilitate label expansions.
- More efficient national procedures and enhanced mutual recognition across Member States for biocontrol solutions.
- Adequate resources and expertise in biocontrol within EFSA and national authorities.
- Better alignment with the Organic Regulation, as biocontrol products authorized at EU level also need to be authorised for organic production.
“This event also placed biocontrol in a broader context, emphasizing that the basis of plant health lies in healthy ecosystems, which can be achieved through sound agronomic management, like organic farmers do,” said Stefano Torriani, Head of the Department of Crop Sciences of FiBL Switzerland.’
About IFOAM Organics Europe, FIBL and IBMA Global
IFOAM Organics Europe is the umbrella organization for organic food and farming, representing nearly 200 members across 34 countries.
The Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL is one of the world’s leading institutes in the field of organic agriculture.
IBMA represents, for more than 30 years, over 200 biocontrol companies globally, advocating for sustainable crop protection.
