On Wednesday 8 November, the European Commission said it will be inviting member states’ experts to express their views on 9 November on the latest proposal it unveiled on 27 October for a five-year renewal of the licence for the glyphosate pesticide in the EU (see EUROPE 11893).
This emerged from a debate on the matter by the College of European Commissioners on Wednesday, ahead of a vote by the standing committee on plants, animals, food and feed (PAFF). Speaking to reporters after the College of Commissioners, Commission vice-president Maroš Šefčovič said the Commission had taken account of the EU28’s views and was making a gesture to the European Parliament, but did not mention any amendments to the proposal on the table.
The College of Commissioners ‘discussed the state of play of the procedure of renewal of the approval of glyphosate submitted to the Member States. The Commission's proposal for a renewal of the authorisation for five years builds on their views and takes into account the non binding resolution of the Parliament’ said Sefcovic.
In terms of the growing controversy about this full spectrum herbicide from Monsanto, recognised as a probable carcinogen by the WHO, but not by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) or the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the proposal on the table halves the duration of the authorisation initially sought by the institution. It does not include any plans to ban the use of glyphosate by 15 December 2022 or an immediate ban on non-professional use as demanded by the European Parliament (see EUROPE 11890). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)