European Union: EU Report Outlines How Food and Feed Omnibus Could Cause EU Agricultural Imports to Decrease 41 Percent

On August 11, 2026, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) released a 161-page study estimating the potential impact on EU trade, farm production, and consumer prices if the EU lowered maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the most hazardous banned pesticides to the limit of quantification (LOQ) on imported food and feed products. The study identifies 18 non-EU-approved active substances that could be affected, spanning 235 commodities and 86 exporting countries. Modeling three scenarios that vary by assumed exporter adaptation, the JRC finds that EU agricultural imports could decline by as much as 41 percent under a "no adaptation" scenario. This report summarizes the JRC's key findings, methodology, and limitations for exporter awareness.