On January 21, the European Parliament voted to refer the Mercosur trade agreement to the European Court of Justice after 25 years of negotiations, potentially delaying ratification by two years. Critics, including MEPs from France, Poland, and Hungary, express concerns about environmental impacts and the import of 'toxic' products treated with banned pesticides. The European Commission defends the agreement, stating that food safety regulations will remain in place. However, consumer advocacy groups argue that current checks are insufficient, raising doubts about the deal's effectiveness in protecting consumers.