A new study by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), published on 11 August 2026, assesses the potential economic impacts of reducing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticides that are not authorised for use in the EU but may still be present in imported agricultural products.
The study, Assessing the economic impacts of stronger alignment of production standards applied to imported products on the EU’s agricultural sector, provides evidence on how stronger alignment between EU production standards and requirements applied to imported products could affect the EU agricultural sector. Its findings contribute to the wider policy discussion on the interaction between food safety, environmental objectives, production standards and international trade.
This work has a direct connection to ACT4CAP27’s fast-track scenario modelling. The analysis was initially launched within the project under WP6 as a fast-track scenario to explore the potential implications of stronger alignment of production standards for imported products. However, because some of the underlying data used in the analysis are confidential, the work subsequently continued internally within the JRC.
The publication now makes the results of this analysis available and provides a valuable evidence base for stakeholders interested in the economic and policy implications of pesticide standards in international agricultural trade. It also illustrates how scenario-based analysis can help explore the potential consequences of policy changes across EU agricultural markets and production systems.
For ACT4CAP27, the study is an important example of the analytical work undertaken to strengthen the evidence base for future agricultural policy choices. By examining how changes in production standards applied to imported products may affect EU agriculture, the analysis helps connect policy objectives with their potential economic implications and supports a more informed discussion of policy options for the future CAP.
🔗 Read the study: Assessing the economic impacts of stronger alignment of production standards applied to imported products on the EU’s agricultural sector — [JRC147659]
🔗 Read the European Commission Daily News announcement: 11 August 2026.
Source: EC JRC
