The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) launched on 23 September two parallel 60-day public consultations on the initial assessment of glyphosate, the controversial pesticide active substance whose authorisation in the EU was renewed at the end of 2017 until 15 December 2022.
These evaluations were prepared by the Glyphosate Evaluation Group (GEG), which is composed of the national competent authorities of four Member States (France, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Sweden).
EFSA will collect comments on the assessment report for the renewal of the approval of glyphosate. ECHA’s consultation is on the harmonised classification and labelling report for this chemical.
Glyphosate is currently subject to a harmonised classification as causing serious eye damage and as toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects, both before and after ECHA’s evaluation in 2017. Classification for germ cell mutagenicity, carcinogenicity or reproductive toxicity was not considered justified. The initial scientific assessment does not recommend any change to the existing classification.
EFSA states that it will take into account the outcome of ECHA’s opinion in the peer review exercise and is expected to finalise its work in the second half of 2022. It will be up to the European Commission and the 27 EU Member States to decide whether to renew the authorisation of glyphosate in the EU.
See the consultation: https://bit.ly/2XZtd69 (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)