EU INSTITUTIONS LOOKING AT RESTRICTING THE USE OF PESTICIDES ON SPORT GROUNDS

EU INSTITUTIONS LOOKING AT RESTRICTING THE USE OF PESTICIDES ON SPORT GROUNDS

On June 22, the European Commission issued a proposal for a revision of the Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides. The new rules highlight the desire of the Commission to further reduce the health and environmental hazards linked to the use of pesticides across the EU. This proposal has been developed within the scope of the Farm to Fork Strategy to further promote a healthy and environmentally sound food system. By turning the current Directive into a Regulation, the European Commission intends that the new rules are applied directly in the Member States.  

While primarily targeting the agricultural sector, the proposal, if adopted in its current form, would have an impact also on the sport sector as the Commission proposes a ban on the use of all pesticides in and around ‘sensitive areas’, recreational and sport grounds included. Golf, football, rugby or tennis and other grass field-based-sports would be the sports most affected by such new rules. The extent of the possible impact is currently being assessed by the EOC EU Office. 

The proposal for revision, however, is still in its early stage. The European Commission is currently running a public consultation with the deadline on 19 September, to which sport organisations can also contribute. The proposal will then be discussed by the European Parliament and the Council, in line with the ordinary legislative procedure. The EOC EU Office is closely following the developments and assessing the impact of this revision on the sport movement, and will inform its partners accordingly.  

Recent Posts

EmpowHER Volleyball: New insights on gender equality in sport leadership

The EmpowHER Volleyball Game Changer (EVGC) project, led by the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) and co-funded by the EU, has released its Gender Equality Survey Analysis, highlighting the continued underrepresentation of women in volleyball leadership across Europe. Based on over 820 responses, the study shows that women hold only 11–30% of leadership roles, with few […]

Read More
SAFE HARBOUR promoted during the Educational Module 2 of the GUARD project

On 14 October 2025, the SAFE HARBOUR project was presented during Module 2 of the Educational Training within the GUARD Project, held in Zagreb. Together, these initiatives provide a comprehensive approach to advancing safeguarding standards at all levels of European sport. During the session, participants explored how SAFE HARBOUR reviews the GAP Report to identify […]

Read More
OCEAN Sport CO2 Calculator promoted to French National Federations

The EOC EU Office participated in the meeting of the Sustainable Development Club in Paris, where 25 National Federations, came together to discuss solutions to climate action in sport, overseen by the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) and the Ministry of Sport. The OCEAN Sport CO₂ Calculator was presented as a practical tool […]

Read More

Related Posts

October 17, 2025
EmpowHER Volleyball: New insights on gender equality in sport leadership

The EmpowHER Volleyball Game Changer (EVGC) project, led by the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) and co-funded by the EU, has released its Gender Equality Survey Analysis, highlighting the continued underrepresentation of women in volleyball leadership across Europe. Based on over 820 responses, the study shows that women hold only 11–30% of leadership roles, with few […]

October 17, 2025
SAFE HARBOUR promoted during the Educational Module 2 of the GUARD project

On 14 October 2025, the SAFE HARBOUR project was presented during Module 2 of the Educational Training within the GUARD Project, held in Zagreb. Together, these initiatives provide a comprehensive approach to advancing safeguarding standards at all levels of European sport. During the session, participants explored how SAFE HARBOUR reviews the GAP Report to identify […]

October 17, 2025
OCEAN Sport CO2 Calculator promoted to French National Federations

The EOC EU Office participated in the meeting of the Sustainable Development Club in Paris, where 25 National Federations, came together to discuss solutions to climate action in sport, overseen by the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) and the Ministry of Sport. The OCEAN Sport CO₂ Calculator was presented as a practical tool […]

About us

The EOC EU Office is the House of European Sport, representing the European Olympic Committees (EOC), the IOC and other major sport organisations to the European institutions in Brussels.
CONTACT
crossmenu linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram