About the evaluation
The Commission has carried out an evaluation of the sustainable use of pesticides directive and an impact assessment of its possible future revision. This work has been carried out in line with the Commission's guidance on Better Regulation.
On 29 May 2020, the Commission published a combined evaluation roadmap and inception impact assessment for this initiative. This document aims to inform citizens and stakeholders about this initiative and allow them to provide feedback and participate actively in future consultation activities.
Citizens and stakeholders were invited to provide their feedback on this document for a period of 10 weeks from its publication. The public feedback period closed on 7 August 2020 and the Commission took the feedback received into account throughout the evaluation and impact assessment.
The Commission organised a Better Training for Safer Food (BTSF) remote workshop with Member States' competent authorities on the topic: "Sustainable use of pesticides Directive (SUD) 2009/128/EC Experiences on its current implementation and possible future policy options".
The workshop ran from 17-19 November 2020. Additional details concerning the event are available via the event website.
Additional consultation events, also with other relevant stakeholders, were organised, including via an external study to support the evaluation and impact assessment.
A contract for this supporting external study was signed in December 2020. On 4 May 2021 a workshop was organised by the external study contractor to discuss the findings of their evaluation work with stakeholders.
The presentations from the workshop can be accessed using the two links below:
- Study supporting the evaluation of Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides and impact assessment of its possible revision
- Review of sustainable use of pesticides Directive (SUD)
On 18 January 2021, the Commission launched an online public consultation/(have your say) for this initiative which was open for responses until 12 April 2021. A total of 1,697 online responses to this consultation were received and analysed.
The consultation responses, documents annexed to the responses and a summary report of the responses have been published on the Commission's Better Regulation Portal.
The Commission organised a first remote stakeholder event on 19 January 2021, to consult and receive input to the planned work.
A recording of the event and relevant presentations are available here. In March 2021 a contract for a 6 month Foresight study was signed aiming to develop future vision scenarios for the sustainable use of pesticides and, in particular, achieving by 2030 the pesticide use and risk reduction targets announced in the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies.
The Commission organised a second remote stakeholder event on 25 June 2021, to give an update on the work underway and to further consult and engage with stakeholders. The event agenda, recording and presentations are available on the Commission events website.
The Commission organised a third remote stakeholder event on 5 October 2021 , to give an update on the work underway and to further consult and engage with stakeholders. The event agenda, recording and presentations are available on the Commission events website.
On 6 October 2021 a workshop was organised by the external study contractor to discuss the findings of their evaluation and impact assessment work with stakeholders. The presentation from the workshop can be accessed using the link below:
The Commission's Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB) reviewed the Commission's draft impact assessment at its meeting of 24 November 2021.
Adoption
The Commission's legislative proposal has been adopted and associated and supporting documents (including annexes) published on 22 June 2022. This adopted act was open for feedback between 24 June 2022 and 21 September 2022.
All feedback received has been summarised by the European Commission and presented to the European Parliament and Council with the aim of feeding into the legislative debate. Feedback received is published.
On 27 March 2024 the Commission withdrew the proposal since no agreement was foreseeable, in view of the rejection of the proposal by the European Parliament and the lack of progress of the discussions in the Council. The Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive (2009/128/EC) remains in force.
Foresight study: Development of future scenarios for sustainable pesticide use and achievement of pesticide use and risk-reduction targets announced in the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies by 2030
Study supporting the evaluation of Directive 2009/128/EC, on the sustainable use of pesticides and impact assessment of its possible revision
Further information
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Commission Staff Working Document (2022) 169 - Subsidiarity Grid
Accompanying the document Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the sustainable use of plant protection products and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 -
Commission Staff Working Document (2022) 170 - Impact Assessment Report (part 1 of 2)
Accompanying the document Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the sustainable use of plant protection products -
Commission Staff Working Document (2022) 170 - Impact Assessment Report (part 2 of 2)
Accompanying the document Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the sustainable use of plant protection products (Annex 8: Evaluation of Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive 2009/128/EC) -
Commission Staff Working Document (2022) 171 - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment Report
Accompanying the document Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the sustainable use of plant protection products and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/2115