Member States endorse draft regulation to improve the labelling of pesticides

The Member States have voted in favour of a Commission draft regulation to revise the rules for labelling pesticide products in the EU. The proposed new regulation updates a previous one dating from 2011 and aims to make it easier for users of pesticides to understand potential risks to human, animal or environmental health.

The new labels, which Member States can adapt to reflect their agro-environmental situations, will give more standardised information on safe handling and conditions of use of pesticides, disposal of empty containers, an indication of specific hazards or risk (for example to bees), as well as risk mitigation and precautionary measures that users must take to protect human health and the environment. In addition to physical labelling, products must bear a digital label facilitating access to information by the user.

Once translated, the draft Regulation will go through a 3-month scrutiny period of the Council and the Parliament. After final adoption, the new labelling requirements will apply for all new or renewed plant protection product applications submitted after 1 January 2028.