Result of SME survey on the REFIT evaluation of the EU agrochem legislation released

The European Commission launched a ‘SME survey for the study supporting the REFIT evaluation of the EU legislation on plant protection products and pesticide residues’ on 14 November, 2017. The survey was closed on 15 January 2018.
 

The SME survey aimed to collect the views of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on the EU legislation on pesticides (Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009) and pesticides residues (Regulation (EC) No 396/2005). In particular, it sought to gather information on how the existing rules governing the approval of active substances, authorisation of pesticides and the setting of maximum residue levels of pesticides are working. The survey focussed particularly on administrative burden and costs. The results of the consultation are important to identify the impacts of the existing rules on SMEs and will be used to assess to which extent the existing rules are fit for purpose.

 

When asked about the impacts of the MRL and Pesticide Regulations on their profits, competitiveness, level of production and volume of sales compared to the situation before the Regulations entered into force, a majority of respondents indicated no impacts on all these variables.

 

The respondents are mainly concerned about the complexity of the rules and the administrative burden, especially considering their relatively small size. When asked if their needs are sufficiently taken into consideration, half of the respondents are satisfied with the Regulations and half of the respondents are dissatisfied.
 

The majority of the respondents report that the share of administrative costs from the pesticide Regulation is below 5% of all administrative costs for their business. 30 respondents report that the share of administrative costs for pesticides is more than 10% of all administrative costs.
 

The external study is expected to be finalised in the summer of 2018. The Commission will then draft a staff working document and the evaluation report is expected to be sent to the European Parliament and the European Council during the first half of 2019.