press releases

27 February

The SUR is gone. Biocontrol should be available to farmers now!

23rd November 2023

EU Parliament rejects SUR opportunity to provide farmers with biocontrol alternatives to secure food production

25th October 2023

Spearheading Innovative-Nature-based Solutions to Ensure Food Security: Biocontrol Industry Meeting Attracts More Than 1800 Delegates in Basel

5^th July 2023

SUR essential to unlock biocontrol for farmers

27^th April 2023

We need biological control for the agriculture transition

26^th october 2022

More than 1550 biocontrol industry representatives gather in Basel at ABIM the premier global meeting of the biocontrol industry.

31^st August 2022

The European Commission adopted the new rules for micro-organisms (also known as microbials) used in plant protection products

IBMA reaction:

IBMA welcomes the European Commission adoption of the new rules for micro-organisms (also known as microbials) used in plant protection products.

IBMA would like to underline the following points:

IBMA appreciates that the weight of evidence approach can replace the systematic use of animal studies to address toxicity and pathogenicity end points.
Biology and ecology are considered the basis for the risk assessment decisions, which is a key adaptation for effective microbial risk assessment,
These revised Data Requirements are a crucial part of the Farm to Fork strategy implementation but alone cannot speed up the delivery of micro-organisms/microbials to the farmers.
The authorization process of 1107/2009 needs to be implemented in a way that allows authorization and placing on the market in Member States within 1-3 years of initial submission as seen for biocontrol in other countries such as USA and Brazil. Timescales for a product to reach the market following submission in the European Union range from 4 years to 10 years.

22^nd June 2022

IBMA Global, Regulation on Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products proposal

29^th March 2022

IBMA Global, IBMA France and IEEP Unlocking the potential of biocontrol

23^rd March 2022

SUD revision Delay: Food security and sustainability – it all starts with the B of Biocontrol

11^th February 2022

The EU Member states have approved new rules to accelerate the approval and authorisation of biological plant protection products containing microorganisms to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides.

IBMA reaction:

IBMA thanks the European Commission for their work to revise the microbial data requirements (DRs). In particular, we appreciate that the weight of evidence approach can replace the systematic use of animal studies to address tox and pathogenicity end points and and there is conditionality in the requirements.

However, IBMA Executive Director Jennifer Lewis underlines: ´´Unfortunately these changes appear unable to speed up microbials authorization. In fact, there is little fundamental change to the existing DRs: which is a disappointing missed opportunity to align European Commission policies to the goals of Farm to Fork. ´´

The most significant change is the incorporation of the secondary metabolite guidance, which stems from a chemical definition of a metabolite, and is now driving the new data requirements and will create some technically unrealistic studies for microbial metabolites that are not of safety concern. This highlights the need for more experts on microbials within the European Commission and Member States to ensure relevant evaluation of the microbial products. Currently it takes up to 10 years for microbials to reach the market. A fast track system must be implemented immediately for microbials and other biocontrol in order to meet the Farm to Fork Strategy objectives for pesticide reduction.

20^th October 2021

IBMA FiBL – More than 970 biocontrol industry representatives gather at ABIM in Basel – a strong boost for our nature based solutions

14^th October 2021

SUD Review: Bioprotection-biocontrol technologies make a crucial contribution to the transition to more agroecological farming

26^th May 2020

IBMA, the voice of the biocontrol industry, thanks the European Commission for the coherence of the Farm to Fork strategy for alternatives to chemical pesticides and the biodiversity strategy

23^rd January 2020

IBMA lodges a complaint with the EU Ombudsman against the EU Commission, for maladministration regarding the adaptation of the PPPs Regulation 1107/2009

Version Francaise

Deutsche Fassung Pressemitteilung

7^th February 2019

Joint IBMA Copa-Cogeca Press Release – Sustainable Plant Protection – Copa and Cogeca and IBMA host a high level symposium to discuss the necessity of expanding farmers’ toolbox

23^rd October 2018

IBMA White Paper – A New EU Regulatory Framework for Bioprotection Agents: IBMA Vision on how to improve regulation in the European Union

11^th September 2018 – Joint Press Release with Copa-Cogeca

Biocontrol solutions in the limelight – Copa-Cogeca and IBMA publish their new Roadmap for collaboration on biocontrol solutions

19^th June 2018

IBMA Biocontrol Survey Report

3^rd November 2017

ABIM 2017: The biggest gathering of biocontrol professionals – ever.

17^th February 2017

IBMA, COPA and COGECA welcome European Parliament resolution calling for faster access to the European Market for Low-Risk pesticides.

3^rd February 2017

The European Parliament ENVI Committee votes 59-1 in favour of a motion for resolution providing faster access for low-risk pesticides in the European Market.

11^th July 2016

IBMA Official response to the Implementation Plan on Acceleration of Sustainable Plant Protection as proposed by the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs: Priority for low-risk plant protection products,as indicated in the Preamble (17) of Regulation (EC) 1107/2009, means prioritizing now

2^nd February 2016

Biocontrol and Biopesticide Associations Form International Federation

26^th November 2015, IBMA/PAN Europe Press release

Sustainable use of pesticides: one year delay in publishing European Commission report

15^th July 2015, IBMA/Copa-Cogeca Press release

IBMA, Copa and Cogeca stress at high-level event that demand for bio-pesticides rising, but overly bureaucratic regulatory system stops market developing

26^th November 2014, IBMA/PAN Europe Press release

The European Commission missed today’s deadline to submit a report to the Parliament and the Council on increased use of alternatives for pest and disease control

press releases

IBMA FiBL – More than 970 biocontrol industry representatives gather at ABIM in Basel – a strong boost for our nature based solutions

EU Farm to Fork Conference 2021: Back Biocontrol, not chemical pesticides

IBMA IEEP – Biocontrol can offer a systemic and balanced solution for sustainable agriculture

IBMA assists in the development of the CABI BioProtection Portal and shared mission of greater ‘green diplomacy’

IBMA 2021 Biocontrol Industry survey calls on members to make a strong can-do statement

SUD Review: Bioprotection-biocontrol technologies make a crucial contribution to the transition to more agroecological farming

IBMA, the voice of the biocontrol industry, thanks the European Commission for the coherence of the Farm to Fork strategy for alternatives to chemical pesticides and the biodiversity strategy

Biocontrol technologies as key part of farmers’ toolbox

IBMA and the organic movement call for better regulation of natural origin plant protection technologies

Proportionate Regulation and Biocontrol is a reality

Jennifer Lewis, IBMA member former employee, is our new Executive Director