Phyteis, an organization representing 18 pesticide manufacturers, has called for changes to the European "omnibus Food & Feed" regulation currently being debated. The regulation aims to streamline the approval process for substances used in food and animal feed. Phyteis argues that the current system is too slow and complex, which is leaving farmers with fewer tools to manage pests and diseases. According to Yves Picquet, president of Phyteis, 92 active substances have been removed from the market over the past seven years, while only one new substance has been authorized and 83 remain under evaluation. This situation has led to a growing shortage of effective agricultural tools, potentially reducing crop yields and creating technical challenges for some farming practices. Phyteis is urging the European Parliament to speed up the approval of new substances and is relying on the omnibus regulation to simplify the evaluation process. The regulation is expected to be finalized by the end of the year. However, the organization has proposed several modifications to the draft text from the European Commission. Currently, the regulation allows for provisional authorizations, but only for biocontrol products—those that use natural methods to manage pests. Phyteis, represented by its secretary general Philippe Michel, is calling for these provisional approvals to be extended to all new innovations. The European Commission has also proposed harmonizing procedures for biocontrol products, including a unified definition across Europe, a single evaluation area instead of the current three zones, and a priority in the evaluation process. However, Phyteis argues that this approach focuses too narrowly on biocontrol and fails to address the broader need for a risk-based evaluation system. The organization is advocating for a shift from a calendar-based approval process to one that is based on the level of risk posed by each substance. Phyteis acknowledges that the controversial concept of unlimited approval does not apply to all active substances and that re-evaluation is possible if new scientific evidence emerges or if a member state requests it. The organization insists that its calls for simplification and rationalization are not about lowering standards but about making the approval system more transparent, predictable, and supportive of innovation, European competitiveness, and farmers. Phyteis is pushing for a process that focuses resources on areas where they are most needed—such as when new applications or changes arise—thereby providing greater security for farmers, consumers, the environment, and the industry. The organization concludes with a question: "Are the members of the European Union lacking in ambition?"