Red Tape on the Menu: Parliament Schedules Hearing on Simplifying Food and Feed Safety Rules

The European Parliament has scheduled a public hearing dedicated to simplifying EU rules on food and feed safety, set for September 2, 2026, at 15:00 CET. Notices published by parliamentary channels confirm the timing and agenda title for the event. While the initial announcements outline the scope and schedule, specific speaker lists, expert panels, and formal legislative proposals for the session have not yet been detailed in the public notices.

EU food and feed safety rules are among the most stringent in the world, designed to guarantee high standards of public health, traceability, and consumer protection across the single market. However, agricultural producers, food manufacturers, and exporters frequently complain about the heavy administrative burden and technical complexity required to demonstrate compliance. By organizing a targeted hearing on rule simplification, the European Parliament is opening a formal venue to assess whether procedures can be made leaner and less burdensome for business without undermining safety benchmarks.

In the Brussels policy bubble, "simplification" has rapidly shifted from a vague political ambition into a concrete legislative objective. As European institutions face increasing pressure to bolster industrial competitiveness and address grievances in the agricultural sector, parliamentary hearings act as a crucial early barometer. They allow MEPs to test the waters, gather technical feedback from industry and civil society, and signal to the European Commission where regulatory friction is felt most acutely.

The public hearing will take place on September 2, 2026, beginning at 15:00 CET under the auspices of the European Parliament. Further operational details, including participating experts, committee assignments, and livestreaming information, are expected to be published ahead of the session.