Photo credits: The toxic rainbow by Fani Hatjina

Apimondia is calling on EU institutions to pause the proposed “Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus” package until a thorough and independent impact assessment is carried out and made public.

The current proposal raises serious concerns, as it was introduced without a formal impact assessment and without clear evidence that it will maintain the existing level of protection for human health, pollinators, and the environment. Recent discussions at EU level have highlighted that such evidence is currently lacking.

For Apimondia, this is not just a procedural issue. Bees and other pollinators are directly exposed to pesticide substances regulated under EU law. Any changes that could weaken safeguards—such as reducing the frequency of reassessments, delaying action on harmful substances, or extending approval periods without sufficient scrutiny—may increase risks for pollinator health, biodiversity, and food production systems.

Apimondia supports regulatory frameworks that are science-based, transparent, and precautionary. Especially at a time of accelerating biodiversity loss, it is essential that any legislative reform strengthens, rather than weakens, public and environmental protections.

As a global organization representing beekeepers from more than 100 countries, Apimondia emphasizes that EU pesticide policy has far-reaching implications beyond Europe. The organization will continue to engage with EU institutions and stakeholders to ensure that future decisions serve people, pollinators, and the planet.

Read the full press release here.