EU proposes indefinite approval for some pesticides

The European Commission said it wants to remove the need to periodically renew the authorisation of some pesticides under plans to simplify food and animal feed safety rules.

"Our proposals remove overlaps in requirements and reporting, address legal uncertainties and eliminate procedures that had little added value," said the bloc's economy and productivity commissioner, Valdis Dombrovskis

The move comes as Brussels has pared back a slew of environmental laws this year on the grounds they risk weighing on growth, in a pro-business push to revamp Europe's economy.

The changes aim at making Europe's "approvals system more agile and reactive" and could lead to 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) in compliance cost savings for business and authorities, the commission said.

But environmental groups were unimpressed.

"This Christmas, the European Commission is giving us toxic pesticides, a gift no one asked for except the pesticide industry," said Clara Bourgin, of Friends of the Earth Europe.

Green groups also complained the proposal, which needs to be backed by the EU parliament and member states, extended the grace period allowing for dangerous pesticides to be sold after being banned to up to three years.

"The first victims of this rollback of health and environmental protection will be farmers and rural communities, who are chronically exposed to toxic pesticides," said Martin Dermine of PAN Europe.