British farmers could lose access to 36 pesticides currently authorised for use in the UK under Labour’s proposed agreement to bring British food and farming regulations back into line with European Union rules.
According to a report in The Telegraph, British negotiators have conceded that the affected chemicals will have to be phased out as part of a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with Brussels.
The products are used to protect crops including wheat, barley, potatoes, onions, apples, pears and strawberries from weeds, pests and diseases.
Although the chemicals remain authorised in Great Britain, the EU has withdrawn approval for their active ingredients over concerns involving human health, wildlife or the environment.
The reported concession has raised fresh questions about how much control Britain will surrender over its agricultural regulations under Labour’s Brexit reset.
Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith accused the Government of allowing Britain to become a Brussels “rule taker”.
“We do not need to get closer to the EU. We, even in difficulty, are consistently outgrowing the EU,” he told The Telegraph.
He also criticised the Government’s negotiating position, arguing that British pesticide regulations should reflect the country’s own agricultural requirements.
The UK and EU are working towards an agreement ahead of a summit in Brussels on 20 November, intended to reduce trade barriers on food, plants and animal products.
However, the proposed deal involves a policy known as dynamic alignment, under which Great Britain would adopt relevant EU regulations and continue updating its rules when Brussels introduces changes.
Government guidance confirms that these requirements could apply even to British farmers and food producers who do not export to the EU.
Among the affected chemicals is benthiavalicarb, a fungicide used to protect potatoes and onions, which lost EU approval following concerns about its potential carcinogenic properties.
Another is dimethomorph, used to control fungal diseases in crops including strawberries and raspberries, which the EU banned over concerns about reproductive toxicity.
Flufenacet, a herbicide used in wheat and barley production, has also lost EU approval because of concerns including groundwater contamination.
Meanwhile, clofentezine, used in apple and pear orchards, was rejected by EU regulators over concerns about its potential effects on hormones, birds and mammals.
The reported agreement would allow affected products to be withdrawn gradually, giving farmers time to use existing stocks and identify alternatives rather than facing an immediate prohibition.
Nevertheless, farming representatives have warned that losing established crop protection products could increase costs and make food production more difficult.
National Farmers’ Union president Tom Bradshaw has insisted that British growers must retain access to effective, scientifically assessed products to protect crops from pests and diseases.
He has also called for appropriate transition periods to minimise disruption to agricultural businesses.
The NFU has separately identified 13 pesticide active substances already withdrawn in the EU but still approved in Great Britain, for which it is seeking a managed transition. The Telegraph’s reported figure of 36 pesticides has not yet been confirmed in a final published agreement.
Dave Bench, of industry association CropLife UK, has warned that future regulations must reflect British growing conditions and the practical consequences for farmers.
He argued that a poorly managed transition could have serious consequences for agricultural businesses already facing considerable financial pressures.
Environmental campaigners, however, have welcomed the prospect of tighter restrictions.
Greenpeace argues that Britain has fallen behind European safety standards and says restrictions should be introduced rapidly to protect wildlife, waterways and public health.
The organisation has called for the bans to take effect within 12 months, alongside additional support for farmers adopting alternative methods of crop protection.
The Government maintains that closer regulatory cooperation with the EU will reduce paperwork, border inspections and delays, potentially generating economic benefits worth up to £5.1 billion annually.
The EU remains Britain’s largest agricultural food trading partner, accounting for around 68 per cent of UK agrifood exports last year, according to the NFU.
For British farmers, however, the potential benefits of smoother exports must now be weighed against the prospect of losing products they currently rely upon to protect their harvests.
The central political question is whether reducing trade barriers with Brussels justifies Britain surrendering the freedom to determine its own agricultural regulations.
The Government has declined to comment on the details of ongoing negotiations, and the final terms, exemptions and implementation timetable have yet to be published.
The proposed arrangements are currently expected to take effect from mid-2027, subject to the outcome of negotiations.
