PAN Europe questions the Commission’s practice of allowing residues of banned pesticides in imported food

"Residues of at least 88 hazardous substances, including carcinogens, hormone disruptors, and “forever chemicals”, that are prohibited for use on European farms are allowed in everyday food products sold on the European market", according to a new policy brief of PAN Europe, released on 21/04/2026.

The independant legal opinion, commissioned by PAN Europe, Foodwatch and the Velben Institute "questions the legality of the European Commission’s practice of permitting residues of banned pesticides in food imported into the EU".

According to the NGOs, "the findings leave no room for doubt : the Commission has the power to end this practice today, and that by failing to do so, it is likely in breach of its legal obligations under EU law. This is particularly salient for substances that have been banned due to health concerns".

Instead, the Food and Feed Safety Omnibus proposal offers "bureaucratic half-measures that would only address a handful of them", they said.

"It covers only a narrow subset of around 22% of the EU-banned substances, introduces socio-economic considerations into what should be a health-based decision, and treats the Commission's obligation to act as optional".

According to the policy brief, "the root cause, the continued trade of EU-banned pesticides to third countries, despite the Commission's 2020 promise to end it, remains entirely unaddressed.

PAN Europe, Foodwatch and the Veblen Institute urge the European Parliament and the Council to "use their scrutiny power to introduce a clear and automatic obligation to prohibit residues of any pesticide not approved in the EU".