Brussels, 17/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 16 May, the European Commission explained that a debate will be held at the College of European Commissioners on Wednesday 18 May on the very controversial dossier involving the glyphosate herbicide, before member state representatives decide whether to renew authorisation for this active substance.
This explanation was provided in response to the surprise expressed by the press regarding the proposal to renew authorisation for this substance for another nine years. None of the restrictions on its use advocated by the European Parliament, particularly with regard to parks and individuals will apply. This pesticide has been acknowledged by the World Health Organisation's (WHO) International Agency for Research into Cancer (IARC) to be "probably carcinogenic", although the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) contradicts this position (see EUROPE 11551).
Enrico Brivio, the spokesperson for the Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, stated that "The Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed will hold a debate tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. A draft has been circulated among member states that takes into account their comments. It also takes into account the resolution voted on by Parliament in April. The College will be informed by Vytenis Andriukaitis about the dossier's progress, tomorrow. The next stages will be discussed on this basis”.
A new FAO/WTO study backs EFSA. On Wednesday, the Commission will give its verdict on a proposal to renew the "active substance" glyphosate. The spokesperson explained that "It is now up to the member states to decide whether they want to impose restrictions on its use". He added that "the most recent study by the FAO and the WHO said it is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk to humans from exposure through the diet”. This new study by the joint FAO/WHO meeting on the residues from pesticides published on Monday comes at a good time for the Commission, during this major controversy. In a press release, Greenpeace affirmed that "At least two experts involved in this evaluation have ties with the industry".
Upstream of the member states' vote, 39 environmental and health NGOs wrote to the ministers of agriculture and the PAFF Committee on Monday 16 May to ask them to vote against the reauthorisation of this substance recognised as "probably carcinogenic" to human beings, in 2015. They also pointed out that under regulation 1107/2009, reauthorizing this active substance should be illegal in the EU. The European Crop Protection organisaion has every confidence in the seriousness of the EU's assessment and said that "We firmly believe that the EU's scientific evaluation is robust and presents no reason for a re-approval of less than 15 years" in compliance with what the Commission originally envisaged. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)