The European Union (EU)’s proposed zero-tolerance limit for non-approved pesticides could impact imports of US soyabeans and other products, according to a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report.
On 16 December 2025, the European Commission (EC) published its draft Food & Feed Omnibus proposal amending, among others, Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on maximum residue levels (MRLs).
Described as “a package of measures to streamline and simplify EU food and feed safety legislation,” the proposed regulations could reduce some MRLs for non-EU-approved pesticides to “limit of quantification” levels, effectively a zero-tolerance level.
The proposal could impact US exports of soyabeans, corn, tree nuts and other products that make up over $US5.4 bn/year of exports to the EU, the 24 February report said.
In addition, the proposed changes offer inadequate transition timelines for US exporters to comply, according to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) report.
“US industry has significant concerns, as do industry contacts in other major EU trading partners – including countries in which the EU recently signed free trade agreements with,” the USDA said.
“On a positive note, the omnibus proposal appears to simplify regulations on biocides, feed additives, hygiene rules and official controls at entry ports.”
The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, as co-legislators, would now assess the EC’s legislative proposal and would need to reach agreement before the proposals were adopted as official EU law, the USDA said.
