Canadian grain and oilseed exports to the EU could be suspended due to pesticide restrictions

The Canadian Grain Council is concerned about the European Commission’s (EC) plans to strengthen controls on pesticide residues in products imported into the EU. The Council acknowledges that this could result in restrictions or suspensions on Canadian grain exports to Europe.

It was previously reported that the European Commission (EC) decided to establish a task force to strengthen controls on pesticide residues in imported goods.

“Depending on the specifics of the reciprocity policy, which will take effect in the spring of 2026 and expand thereafter, all grain exports to the EU (cereals, oilseeds, and pulses) could be restricted or suspended. If allowed to proceed unchecked, this would also hinder Canada’s broader efforts to diversify trade, as many countries around the world are influenced by EU trade policies,” the Canadian Grain Council notes.

The council also believes that the European Union is taking an increasingly cautious approach to agricultural innovation, which “creates risks for global food trade and threatens to undermine Canada’s ability to implement productivity-enhancing innovations, particularly in crop protection products.”

Tags: grain, EU, Canada, wheat, rapeseed, pesticide