Brussels - 16 December 2025 - The Brussels Court of First Instance delivered an important ruling yesterday: the Flemish pesticide regulations are in violation of European law. The judge confirms that Flanders has never correctly transposed the European Habitat and Pesticides Directive. Bond Beter Leefmilieu, Dryade, Natuurpunt, Velt, and WWF, who initiated the case, respond hopefully: "This ruling is an essential and logical step forward for our precious nature, waterways, and the health of the Flemish people."
In its ruling of 15 December 2025 the Brussels Court of First Instance decided that the effects of pesticide use in and around Natura 2000 areas must be investigated. The regulations meant to protect such areas from pesticides contain too many loopholes. The judge establishes the infringement and now leaves the Flemish Government with the choice of how to rectify this violation. It is already clear that the Flemish regulations need serious repair.
“This ruling is good news for everyone: for the animal and plant species in our nature areas, for the quality of our drinking water, and therefore also for the health of us all. Robust nature is the basic condition for everyone’s health,” states Mattias Bruynooghe, head of policy at Natuurpunt. “We now expect regulations that follow common sense: pesticides do not belong in nature areas.”
“We call on the Flemish Government to develop a systematic approach to pesticide use. This would finally guarantee legal certainty for nature and agriculture,” says Heleen De Smet, policy officer at Bond Beter Leefmilieu. “The Flemish government must fundamentally redesign its agricultural policy and explicitly create opportunities for sustainable agriculture, where pesticides are used less or not at all.”
“It is very unfortunate that the judge failed to impose the expansion of buffer zones,” says Geert Gommers, pesticide expert from Velt. “The Flemish Action Plan for Sustainable Pesticide Use only provides for 10 metres of pesticide-free land around vulnerable institutions such as childcare centres, nursery and primary schools, care institutions, and residential care centres, starting from 2026. This is far from sufficient. Additional measures are necessary to reduce exposure for everyone.”
“We are pleased with this clear signal to the government. A healthy nature provides important services and added value for both people and the economy. From health benefits to water supply and tourism, every euro invested in nature restoration yields between 8 and 51 euros back,” says Julie Vandenberghe, Director of Policy & Business at WWF-Belgium. “It is therefore only normal that the effects of pesticides on the quality of our nature are evaluated and that necessary measures are taken to limit the impact.”
“The scope of this ruling goes beyond pesticides,” says Dries Verhaeghe, director of Dryade. “The ruling indicates that the effects of, for example, fertilisation in and near Natura 2000 areas must also be investigated. We hope that this ruling leads to better Flemish water quality.”