Bolstered by a scientific study published on Wednesday 24 April on the transgenerational impacts of glyphosate on rodent health, the NGO HEAL (Health & Environment Alliance) gave a warning on the same day, calling on the EU to take this into account in the re-evaluation of this pesticide.
This study - the first of its kind - published in the scientific journal Nature, highlights various negative health effects of the second and third generation of rat offspring exposed to glyphosate. It shows that the offspring of rats exposed to glyphosate are more likely to develop kidney and ovarian diseases, obesity and birth defects.
Therefore, it suggests that risk assessments need to take into consideration the ability of chemicals to impact future generations through transgenerational effects, instead of only looking at the health impacts of direct exposure.
HEAL calls for withdrawal of glyphosate. “This study provides alarming new evidence supporting our public health call to take glyphosate off the European market. If a pesticide is showing harm which only occurs generations down the line, surely this is an opportunity for the European Commission to take more precautionary measures to protect our health”, comments Genon Jensen, Executive Director of HEAL - one of the NGOs behind the European Citizens' Initiative 'Stop glyphosate' in a statement.
The re-evaluation of glyphosate will begin in December 2019. The study is timely, as the process of renewing or not renewing the glyphosate licence is about to begin. On 15 April, Member State representatives accepted the Commission's proposal to appoint France, Hungary, the Netherlands and Sweden as joint rapporteurs (Assessment Group on Glyphosate, AGG) for the glyphosate re-evaluation exercise which will start in December 2019, after companies applying for renewal have submitted their dossiers.
An evaluation report will be submitted by the AGG group to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2021.
In the EU, the licence was renewed for 5 years in November 2017 following scientific controversy and will expire on 15 December 2022. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)