The European Commission has adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025\/973, which introduces key updates to the regulations governing the use of products and substances in organic farming. One of the most significant changes is the revision of the use of semiochemicals, such as pheromones, which are essential tools in integrated pest management. These substances work by modulating insect behavior through chemical signals, offering an effective, targeted, and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional pesticides.<\/p>\n
Until now, the regulations required that semiochemicals be applied only through traps or dispensers, preventing direct contact with crops. However, the new regulation removes this requirement, recognizing that the method of application is not the only relevant factor in ensuring the product\u2019s safety and its compliance with organic principles. This decision is based on the conclusions of the Expert Group for Technical Advice on Organic Production (EGTOP), as well as on scientific guidelines regarding the use of semiochemicals as low-risk active substances.<\/p>\n
In this context, straight-chain lepidopteran pheromones (acetates)\u2014a group of pheromones used to confuse or attract insect pests\u2014have been officially added to the list of substances authorized for use in organic production. Along with these, other low-risk substances are included, such as lavandulyl senecioate, sheep fat (used as an odor repellent), and quartz sand. All of these have met the criteria established by European regulations to ensure that their use does not compromise ecological integrity or human or animal health.<\/p>\n
This regulatory update represents a significant step forward in promoting more efficient and resilient organic farming. The use of semiochemicals not only reduces the chemical burden on agroecosystems but also improves the selectivity of interventions and minimizes unintended effects on biodiversity. Furthermore, it provides organic farmers with new tools to address the challenges of pest control in increasingly variable climatic conditions.<\/p>\n
In short, with the adoption of Regulation 2025\/973, the European Union reaffirms its commitment to sustainable agri-food production based on innovation, scientific evidence, and respect for the environment. The more flexible inclusion of semiochemicals in organic production not only broadens the range of solutions available to farmers but also strengthens Europe\u2019s leadership in regulations that balance productivity, health, and sustainability.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The European Commission has adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025\/973, which introduces key updates to the regulations governing the use of products and substances in organic farming. One of the most significant changes is the revision of the use of semiochemicals, such as pheromones, which are essential tools in integrated pest management. These substances work by modulating insect behavior through chemical signals, offering an effective, targeted, and environmentally friendly alternative to[…]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23212,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_selected_social_profile":[]},"categories":[62],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23218"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23218"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23219,"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23218\/revisions\/23219"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23212"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}