The European Commission is proposing to renew the authorisation of the active substance glyphosate for 10 years in the European Union, the EU institution confirmed on Wednesday 20 September, publishing the text of its proposal on the same day.
Its proposed Regulation, due on 22 September, took all observers by surprise. It is based on the favourable opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (see EUROPE 13231/22, 13226/7).
Among the restrictions on the use of glyphosate, the proposal calls for compliance with maximum residue levels, risk mitigation measures around sprayed areas using buffer strips, and a ban on the use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant.
The Commission is leaving it up to the Member States to pay particular attention to the issues raised by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that could not be resolved due to a lack of data, such as the impact on aquatic species and biodiversity and the long-term impact on mammals.
For products containing the active substance, Member States will have to examine co-formulants.
The text will be submitted to the Standing Committee (ScoPAFF) on Friday and the vote is scheduled for 13 October, a senior official said, reiterating the Commission’s determination to obtain a decision before the current licence expires on 15 December. In the absence of a qualified majority to support the proposal, an Appeal Committee may be convened, possibly in November.
The maximum period for authorisation is 15 years. In 2017, the active substance was renewed for a further 5 years, provoking considerable controversy.
“The European Commission is jeopardising the health of millions of European citizens for another 10 years. The renewed and extended authorisation of glyphosate blatantly contradicts the EU’s precautionary principle, which must protect consumers”, was the immediate reaction of MEP Jutta Paulus (Greens/EFA, German) (see EUROPE 13243/6).
See the proposal: https://aeur.eu/f/8o3 (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)