Event information
- 08 → 09/09/2026
- Brussels
EACL President – Euros Jones and Secretary General – Laurent Oger joined policymakers, regulatory experts, legal professionals, industry representatives and agricultural stakeholders in Brussels for the 2026 ECCA Crop Protection Regulatory Conference. The two-day conference, held on 8–9 September, focused on the evolving regulatory and legal landscape for post-patent plant protection products (PPPs) and the implications for European agriculture.
Euros Jones chaired sessions on the evolution of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 and the Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus, as well as discussions on recent developments in active substance and product evaluations. Laurent Oger chaired the conference’s dedicated legal session, focusing on developments affecting post-patent plant protection products at both EU and Member State level.
A regulatory framework in transition
A key focus throughout the conference was the Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus and the proposed changes to the EU framework for plant protection products.
Discussions examined issues including data protection, the renewal of active substances, mutual recognition between Member States and the implementation of Regulation 1107/2009. With the regulatory framework under review, speakers explored how simplification could improve predictability and reduce administrative burdens while maintaining Europe’s high standards for health and environmental protection.
The conference also highlighted the practical implications of regulatory developments for farmers. Discussions on the availability of plant protection solutions underlined the challenges created by a shrinking toolbox and the importance of ensuring that European farmers can continue to access effective solutions to manage pest pressure and maintain agricultural competitiveness.
The legal session brought the focus to recent developments in the EU and national regulatory frameworks, examining developments affecting post-patent PPPs across the EU and Member States as well as an overview of major recent court cases and their implications for the sector. The discussions illustrated the increasingly important role of legal developments in shaping market access, regulatory practice and the wider post-patent landscape.
Looking ahead
The conference provided a forum for exchange at a time when the EU regulatory framework for crop protection is undergoing significant change. For EACL, participation in these discussions offered an opportunity to engage with members and stakeholders working across the regulatory and legal landscape and to contribute to the broader dialogue on the future of post-patent plant protection in Europe.
EACL thanks the European Crop Care Association (ECCA) for the invitation and for bringing together such a diverse group of experts and stakeholders in Brussels.
