A Conversation with Karel Bolckmans

As a result, European farmers lag in access to sustainable crop protection solutions. At the same time, chemical pesticides are being rapidly removed from the market through the 10-year reauthorization process. This mismatch—slow access to biologicals versus fast removal of chemicals—is leaving farmers with fewer tools to manage pests and diseases, which could eventually threaten food security in Europe. The current regulatory framework has also stifled innovation. European biocontrol companies are increasingly investing and launching products outside Europe, while biocontrol flourishes elsewhere.

He explained that the European Commission’s recent proposal aims to change this. Although it is still subject to approval by the European Parliament and the Council of Agriculture Ministers, it represents a historic first step toward a more balanced regulatory system. The proposal is not perfect, but if implemented, December 16, 2025, could be remembered as a landmark day for biocontrol in Europe.

From the very first page, the Commission acknowledges the problem clearly: the current regulatory process takes too long, creating challenges for farmers. Immediate action is needed to ensure farmers can continue to control pests and diseases, while also supporting a transition to more sustainable agriculture, particularly in crop protection.

The Commission identifies the core issue: the slow regulatory process is largely due to insufficient resources and expertise at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and within member states. Many evaluators at the member state level are highly experienced with chemical pesticides, but when presented with a biological product dossier, they often struggle. This leads to repeated questions and delays, sometimes stretching the process over a decade. It is fundamentally a resource, competency, and skills issue.

To address this, the Commission proposes three main approaches:

1. Reinforce EFSA: Increase resources, skills, and expertise to strengthen EFSA’s ability to evaluate biological products efficiently.
2. Support member states: For countries lacking sufficient expertise, EFSA can provide assistance in evaluating biological product registration applications.
3. Use existing resources more efficiently through five measures.

Karel summarized, these five measures are designed to make the evaluation of biological control products faster, more efficient, and more effective.

First, the 10-year automatic renewal process will no longer apply to chemical pesticides. However, the proposal still requires an immediate re-evaluation if new scientific information indicates that a chemical or biological product is less safe than initially assessed. This is not a complete deregulation.

The second controversial element concerns grace periods for products removed from the market. Under the proposal, these periods would double: one year for sales and three years for stock usage. These two changes are the primary points of contention for NGOs.

At this moment, the European Commission is extending a hand. After 30 years, they are saying: “Let us help you.” It is not perfect, but it is significant and will have a substantial positive impact. We should take that hand, celebrate this progress, and make it happen.

1. Registration Timeline: The Commission’s proposal does not set a clear target. It is open-ended. Europe should be ambitious and aim for two to three years.

2. Definition of Biologicals: The proposal specifies that products must be “structurally similar and functionally identical” to naturally occurring compounds. If interpreted literally, modified natural products—strobilurins, avermectins, spinosyns, pyrethroids—could be classified as biologicals. This would dilute the meaning of biocontrol.

Now, more than ever, it is critical to stand together. 2026 promises to be a very important year—perhaps one of the most significant in the history of biological control. Being united will ensure that our industry continues to advance and have influence where it matters most.