The Council set its position on the remaining part of the ‘Omnibus X’ simplification package. The package aims to reduce unnecessary administrative costs and burdens, while maintaining the EU’s very high standards for food and feed safety, and for the protection of human and animal health and environmental protection. In practice, the proposal simplifies rules and procedures identified as particularly burdensome by stakeholders and authorities across EU legislation, from plant protection products and biocidal products, to feed, official controls, and animal health and welfare.
Amendments introduced by the Council include:
Biocidal products regulation
Biocidal products are used to protect humans, animals, materials, or articles against harmful organisms like pests or bacteria, by the action of the active substances contained in the biocidal product.
The Council mandate maintains the currently applicable principle of approvals for active substances with an expiration date, albeit with a prolonged approval period, notably of 15 years for first approvals and 25 years for subsequent renewals. This is deemed as suitable and sufficient to address the structural delays in the review programme of active substances.
Feed additives regulation
The Commission proposal introduces several targeted simplification measures for feed additives. These include removing the systematic renewal requirement for most authorised additives, streamlining procedures for modifications to existing authorisations and enabling digital labelling for certain information.
Genetically modified food and feed regulation
The Council mandate builds on the Commission's intention to clarify that fermentation products produced using genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs) are not food or feed ‘produced from GMOs’, while also introducing amendments aimed at ensuring a high level of protection of human and animal health, as well as the environment.
Among these measures is the development of Commission guidance on good manufacturing practices aimed at minimising the presence of residual GMM material in the relevant food or feed products.
Next steps
The Council presidency will start negotiations with the European Parliament once the latter adopts its position, with a view to reaching a speedy provisional agreement on the overall ‘Omnibus X’ package by the end of 2026.
September 30, 2026/ European Council/ European Union.
https://www.consilium.europa.eu
