On Wednesday 26 November, 2025, IFOAM Organics Europe expressed its support for the adoption of the European Parliament’s own-initiative report on biocontrol. The report calls for a faster registration and uptake of biocontrol products, while emphasizing the importance of preventive practices.
Eduardo Cuoco, Director of IFOAM Organics Europe, commended the efforts of the Members of European Parliament (MEPs) in keeping the report and requested measures targeted solely to biocontrol. He also stressed the need to never use increasing access to biocontrol as an excuse to weaken rules for synthetic pesticides, which have been proven to cause health issues, biodiversity loss, and contamination of soil and water.
However, the organic movement is concerned about the leak of the European Commission’s omnibus proposal, which reveals plans to amend Regulation (EC) 1107/2009 on the placing of Plant Protection Product (PPP) to the market. This proposal would grant unlimited approvals for all types of PPPs, remove Member States’ obligation to consider the latest independent science, and double grace periods for the use of hazardous pesticides. Cuoco emphasized that maintaining synthetic pesticides on the market indefinitely would contradict the goal of increasing the use of biocontrol and would be a major setback for public health and the environment.
In terms of biocontrol, the organic sector welcomes the clear demands from MEPs, including the introduction of an EU-wide definition, adapted risk assessment for biocontrol products, a stronger mutual recognition procedure, facilitated renewal process, provisional authorizations, support for small and medium-sized enterprises during the application preparation process, and increased capacity for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and national competent authorities.
Jan Plagge, President of IFOAM Organics Europe, highlighted the importance of addressing the current regulatory barriers that limit the availability and access for biocontrol products. He also emphasized that biocontrol is an important tool in the holistic strategies used by organic farmers to manage pests and diseases, but its limited availability is due to the risk assessment and approval procedure designed for synthetic pesticides.
While acknowledging that biocontrol can help reduce dependency on synthetic pesticides, the report also notes that it cannot always replace them. Plagge emphasized the need for broader measures to drive real changes in agricultural practices, citing the complementary plant health strategies developed by organic farmers as an example. These strategies, which focus on preventive agronomic practices such as selecting resilient varieties, implementing crop rotations, and promoting functional biodiversity, have successfully managed plant health while limiting the use of external inputs. Plagge concluded that while biocontrol is not a “silver bullet,” it can be effective when used as part of a combination strategy in well-managed ecosystems.
Biocontrol refers to nature-derived organisms and substances, such as essential oils, (micro)organisms, or semiochemicals, used to manage plant health. In organic systems, biocontrol is just one tool used to address pests and diseases, with preventive and agronomic measures being the primary methods. Only 10% of organic agricultural land requires the use of natural substances in addition to preventive agronomic measures, with some crops requiring more than others, such as fruits and grapes.
This statement from IFOAM Organics Europe ends with a reminder that it is not distributed by Pressat, as originally stated.