EU pesticide regulation proposals could raise food prices

Proposed European Union plans to tighten regulations on pesticide residues in imported food and feed could lead to significant increases in consumer prices and a reduction in agricultural imports. A study by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) indicates that lowering Maximum Residue Levels (MRL) to the Limit of Quantification (LOQ) could decrease imports by as much as 41%.

The study identified 18 hazardous active substances not approved in the EU that affect 235 products across 86 exporting countries. Depending on how market actors respond—whether by changing pesticides, adjusting processing schedules, or separating production lines—the economic impact will vary. One analyzed scenario suggests that total EU agricultural imports could drop by 8%, with consumer prices for table grapes and citrus fruits rising by 6.5% and 5.6%, respectively. In extreme cases, price increases for citrus could reach up to 82%.

European agriculture faces a dilemma: reducing pesticide risks without making domestic products less competitive or excessively increasing production costs.