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The Council of the European Union has agreed on its position regarding part of the “Omnibus X” legislative package, an initiative included in the EU’s regulatory simplification agenda that aims to reduce administrative burdens and costs for the agri-food sector without compromising European standards for food safety, animal health, and environmental protection.
The proposal affects various areas of European legislation, including the sustainable use of pesticide products, registration requirements for farm animals, and certain rules on the use of plastics in the food industry.
According to the Cypriot Presidency of the Council, the goal is to move toward simpler, more efficient, and less costly rules for operators and public authorities, while maintaining the high level of protection for human and animal health required by European legislation.
Member States generally supported the approach presented by the European Commission and agreed on the need to accelerate regulatory simplification. In addition, they introduced amendments aimed at further facilitating and streamlining the implementation of some of the directives included in the package.
The initiative is part of the process launched by European institutions to streamline certain agri-food regulations in response to calls from the primary sector, which for months has been calling for a reduction in bureaucratic burdens and greater regulatory flexibility in light of rising costs and regulatory pressure.
The “Omnibus X” package also includes amendments related to pesticide products, biocides, animal feed, official controls, and animal health and welfare regulations. The Council had previously approved another part of the package concerning the extension of data protection periods for biocidal products.
Now that the Member States have adopted this common position, negotiations with the European Parliament will begin to reach a final legislative text.
May 26, 2026/ Council of the European Union/ European Union.
https://www.consilium.europa.eu
