EU plans to tighten regulations on imported crops with pesticides banned in Europe [World News]

New restrictions in response to farmers’ and consumers’ concerns

Current EU legislation prohibits the use of many harmful chemicals within member states. However, agricultural products imported from external countries often contain pesticide residues that are banned in Europe. According to the draft new regulations, the European Union plans to restrict imports of such agricultural products. The new regulations would aim to restrict imports of products that do not meet EU standards for the safety of pesticides used. This would be to prevent unfair competition against European farmers, who have been protesting in many European countries for weeks, demanding, among other things, a restriction on cheap imports. The second major objective is to protect the environment and the health of consumers and to reassure them that the products available on the European market meet the highest safety standards.

Consequences for global trade and relations with the EU’s trading partners

While the new regulations appear to be beneficial to both European farmers and the public, while being fully in line with international regulations, they may also lead to trade tensions with the European Union’s main partners. The new regulations may also increase the price of some products imported from outside the EU, such as soya, citrus fruit and tea. The planned regulations may significantly affect international suppliers, especially from countries such as the United States, Brazil and India, where the use of certain pesticides banned in the EU is widespread. Negotiations on the new regulations could be turbulent, especially if the United States and other countries critical of the planned regulatory change decide to take the retaliatory measures they have announced, such as tariffs on EU products.