Pesticides

EU Commission Opens Feedback on Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus X Directive

The European Commission is consulting on its Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus X Directive, which would amend pesticides, animal welfare and food-contact legislation as part of a wider burden-reduction package, with feedback windows running through late May and mid-June 2026. Agriculture, food, feed, chemicals and packaging businesses should assess how new rules on drone pesticide application, simplified farm record keeping and streamlined food-contact testing could affect compliance strategies, investment decisions and operational planning across EU markets.

16 May 2026, 08:57ec.europa.euEuropean Union

New Zealand Introduces ACVM Amendment Bill To Streamline Agricultural Chemicals And Veterinary Medicines

In May 2026 New Zealand introduced the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Amendment Bill to streamline approvals for agricultural chemicals and veterinary medicines by relying more on trusted overseas regulators and risk-based pathways. If enacted, this will reshape how manufacturers and importers plan registrations for new and lower-risk products, potentially shortening time to market while shifting detailed timelines and requirements into future regulations.

16 May 2026, 08:53beehive.govt.nzNew Zealand

Wyoming Proposes Updates To Weed And Pest Control Rules Chapter 1

The Wyoming Secretary of State has approved a proposed rule packet for the Department of Agriculture’s Weed and Pest Programs, opening Chapter 1 of the Wyoming Weed and Pest Control Rules for public comment in May 2026. This initiates a state-level rulemaking that could alter the framework for weed and pest control activities in Wyoming, so affected agricultural stakeholders should monitor the official posting and comment deadline to assess potential compliance impacts.

15 May 2026, 17:49rules.wyo.govUnited States

Netherlands Senate Issues Written Consultation Report on Evaluation of Plant Protection Products and Biocides Act (Wgb)

The Netherlands Senate has published a written Q&A with the State Secretary confirming that nearly all recommendations from the evaluation of the Plant Protection Products and Biocides Act (Wgb) will be implemented, including binding sectoral covenants, closer inspectorate cooperation and a new method to align authorisations with EU water-quality norms. This signals a medium-term tightening of Dutch pesticide and biocide controls, with stricter enforcement, potential fine increases and expanding digital recording obligations that manufacturers, distributors and agricultural users should factor into their compliance and product strategies.

15 May 2026, 17:45zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

California Assembly Appropriations Committee Approves Amended AB-1603 PFAS Pesticide Bill

In May 2026, the California Assembly Appropriations Committee amended and advanced AB-1603, a bill to restrict and ultimately ban PFAS-containing pesticides. If enacted, the measure would block new PFAS pesticide registrations, phase out specified PFAS products by 2030 and all PFAS pesticides by 2035, forcing pesticide manufacturers and agricultural users to plan for reformulation, substitution and tighter permitting in California.

15 May 2026, 16:31leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

India BIS Consults On Draft Standards For Orthosiphon Root And Hydrogen Generators

In May 2026, the Bureau of Indian Standards opened public consultations on a new Indian Standard for Orthosiphon rubicundus root used in traditional medicine and a second revision of IS 16509 on safety requirements for hydrogen generators using water electrolysis. These drafts signal upcoming Indian specifications for herbal raw materials and hydrogen equipment that could shape quality controls, testing expectations, and certification conditions for suppliers to the Indian market, so impacted firms should review and consider commenting before the July 2026 deadline.

15 May 2026, 16:21standards.bis.gov.inIndia

Vermont Legislature Passes Paraquat Herbicide Ban Bill H.739

The Vermont Legislature has passed Bill H.739, which would largely ban the sale and use of paraquat herbicides statewide from November 2026, with only narrow, time-limited exemptions under permits issued by the Secretary of Agriculture. Growers, pesticide distributors, and agribusinesses using paraquat in Vermont should now plan for a transition to alternative weed-control strategies and products ahead of the 2026 ban and the planned phase-out of any permitted uses by 2030.

15 May 2026, 16:18legislature.vermont.govUnited States

Minnesota Senate Passes SF5073 Agriculture Omnibus Bill (PFAS Packaging Funding; Paraquat Report)

On 14 May 2026 the Minnesota Senate passed omnibus agriculture bill SF5073, which would allow state AGRI funds to support commercialisation of PFAS-reducing fibre-based barrier packaging and require a detailed 2029 report on paraquat dichloride use and supply chains in the state. If enacted, this would create targeted funding opportunities for packaging innovation while signalling heightened scrutiny of paraquat herbicide risks in Minnesota, giving packaging suppliers and agrochemical companies early warning of potential future restrictions.

15 May 2026, 16:14revisor.mn.govUnited States

Belgium Announces Voluntary Withdrawal of Authorisations for GIBB PLUS SL and PROREX

In May 2026, Belgium announced the voluntary withdrawal of authorisations for the plant protection products GIBB PLUS SL and PROREX, with phase-out dates running through 30 September 2027. Distributors and professional users in Belgium must align stock management and application plans with these deadlines to remain compliant.

15 May 2026, 16:10fytoweb.beBelgium

EU Council Presidency Compromise Texts and Explanatory Notes on Food and Feed Safety Omnibus Regulation Proposal

In May 2026 the EU Council Presidency tabled several non‑public compromise texts and explanatory notes for the Food and Feed Simplification Regulation, which would amend multiple core EU food and feed safety laws in a single omnibus act. This indicates that Council negotiations on the package are progressing, and food, feed, pesticide and biocides supply chains should anticipate future changes to hygiene, residue, animal welfare and official control requirements as the text is finalised.

15 May 2026, 15:47eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

US District Court Declares 2022 ESA Biological Opinion for Malathion Unlawful

In May 2026 a US federal district court declared the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2022 nationwide ESA biological opinion for malathion registration unlawful, finding its jeopardy and critical-habitat analyses arbitrary and capricious. The ruling forces FWS and EPA back to the drawing board on ESA consultation for malathion, creating significant uncertainty over future label restrictions and permissible agricultural and mosquito-control uses.

15 May 2026, 15:46govinfo.govUnited States

Japan MAFF Updates Pesticide Registrations in Kanpō Issue 1704 (14 May 2026)

Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has used the Official Gazette on 14 May 2026 to register a series of new pesticide products and announce the lapse of multiple existing registrations under the Pesticides Control Act. Agrochemical manufacturers and distributors should verify which formulations have been added or removed from the authorised list for Japan and adjust product offerings, labelling and supply planning accordingly.

15 May 2026, 15:16kanpo.go.jpJapan

EU EESC Opinion on Food and Feed Simplification Omnibus

In April 2026, the European Economic and Social Committee published a detailed opinion on the EU Food and Feed simplification omnibus package, backing simplification while proposing targeted changes to pesticide, biocontrol, GMO, seed and food/feed safety rules. The non-binding recommendations signal likely pressure in upcoming negotiations for more flexible yet harmonised authorisation, mutual recognition, grace periods and labelling for plant protection products, MRLs and GM-derived foods, which could materially reshape future compliance obligations for EU food, feed and agrochemical supply chains.

15 May 2026, 15:00eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

ECHA Updates EU CLP Proposal for Acequinocyl With Chronic Aquatic M-Factor

In May 2026, ECHA updated Germany’s CLH proposal for the plant protection active substance acequinocyl under the EU CLP framework, with the proposed classification now including an M-factor of 1000 for both acute and chronic aquatic hazards alongside other severe hazard classes. If this harmonised classification is later adopted into CLP Annex VI, companies placing acequinocyl-based plant protection products on the EU market would need to reassess labelling, safety data sheets, and environmental risk controls to reflect the very high aquatic toxicity classification.

15 May 2026, 14:59echa.europa.euEuropean Union

Norway: BAMA Recalls Red Royal Gala Apples From Argentina Over Propargite Residues

In May 2026, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority reported that BAMA is recalling loose red Royal Gala apples imported from Argentina after testing found propargite pesticide residues above the legal limit. This underscores strict enforcement of pesticide residue controls in fresh produce, and importers and retailers should review supplier monitoring and lot traceability for similar fruit supply chains.

15 May 2026, 14:43mattilsynet.noNorwayArgentina

New Zealand Proposes Amendments to Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act to Speed Agricultural Product Approvals

In May 2026 the New Zealand Government announced an amendment bill to streamline approvals under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act, aiming to speed access to new agricultural and horticultural products while reducing regulatory duplication. Strategically, this signals a more permissive but still risk-managed pathway for agrichemicals and other hazardous products, potentially accelerating innovation and market entry while relying more heavily on trusted overseas assessments.

15 May 2026, 13:27beehive.govt.nzNew Zealand

ECHA Publishes Provisional Draft Agenda for RAC-77 Meeting (1–5 June 2026)

ECHA has published the provisional agenda for its June 2026 RAC-77 meeting, which will review key CLH dossiers and adopt draft restriction opinions on Octocrilene and certain chromium(VI) compounds alongside discussions on glyphosate and water-policy tasks. These agenda signals highlight substances and dossiers likely to move next through the EU risk assessment and restriction pipeline, giving companies early visibility of issues that may tighten future classification and market access rules.

15 May 2026, 12:23echa.europa.euEuropean Union

Netherlands Submits Final CLH Proposal for Hydrolysed Chitosan Hydrochloride (OptiCHOS)

As of May 2026, the Netherlands has submitted the final harmonised classification proposal for Hydrolysed chitosan hydrochloride (OptiCHOS) as an active substance in EU plant protection products. This moves the substance into ECHA's formal CLP decision process, signalling a likely future EU-wide binding classification that could require manufacturers and users to update labels, safety data sheets, and risk management for OptiCHOS-based products.

15 May 2026, 11:58chem.echa.europa.euEuropean Union

Vermont House Refers Bill S.323 on Agricultural, Pesticide, Seed, and Hemp Reforms to Appropriations Committee

Vermont’s omnibus agriculture bill S.323, which would tighten pesticide licensing, impose new registration and reporting duties for treated and genetically engineered seed, shift hemp and cannabinoid oversight to the Cannabis Control Board, and adjust farm, water and energy-siting rules, has been referred from the House floor to the Appropriations Committee following Senate passage and initial House review, with a proposed effective date of 1 July 2026. If enacted broadly as passed by the Senate, the bill would create new compliance burdens for pesticide dealers and applicators, seed distributors, hemp and cannabinoid businesses, and larger farm and energy projects in Vermont, so affected operators should track the remaining House process closely and begin planning for system, labelling and reporting changes.

15 May 2026, 09:40legislature.vermont.govUnited States

Jamaica Proposes Technical Regulation on Labelling of Pre‑Packaged Goods

Jamaica has issued a draft Technical Regulation on labelling of pre‑packaged goods, notified via the WTO, with public comments invited between 12 May and 11 July 2026. If adopted in 2026, it will replace numerous existing labelling standards and introduce more detailed GHS‑style hazard and energy labelling obligations, so manufacturers and importers should assess affected products and prepare label changes ahead of entry into force.

15 May 2026, 09:40members.wto.orgJamaica