The department added the proposals did not include adequate transition timelines for US exporters to comply with the effective zero-tolerance of residues. CropLife Europe, which promotes sustainable crop protection, said the EU proposals risk excluding safe food from the EU market, and disrupting trade flows the EU food system relies on, including key imports like coffee, spices, cocoa, canola, soy and offseason produce. Meanwhile, the US Department of Agriculture has said the EU proposals do not appear to be consistent with World Trade Organisation sanitary and phytosanitary agreements. The proposals are in the EU's Food and Feed Safety Simplification package, which also contains a host of other proposals on pesticides and bio-pesticides, biocidal products, feed additives, and record-keeping rules for livestock farmers. Any resulting disruption of feed ingredients could be keenly felt in Ireland, which is only about 36% self-sufficient in animal feed, and relies on imports mostly coming from North and South America.

Source: Irish Examiner March 03, 2026 21:19 UTC