MEPs on the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) will vote, on Tuesday 24 October, on the proposed objection by the Greens/EFA, S&D and The Left political groups, who are determined to oppose the European Commission’s proposal to extend the licence for the active substance glyphosate in the EU for a further 10 years (see EUROPE 13271/5, 13226/7).
Speaking to the press by video conference on Monday, German MEP Jutta Paulus (Greens/EFA) predicted “a narrow majority vote” in favour of the objection.
She based her prediction on the fact that the Renew Europe group is divided and, therefore, that one part of this group is expected to support the proposed objection.
The proposed objection refers mainly to the missing data, which the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) itself stressed that this has prevented it from reaching a conclusion on certain points - which is why the European Commission is passing on to the Member States the responsibility for taking measures to mitigate the risks, when they authorise glyphosate-finished products.
The objection calls on the European Commission not to renew the authorisation for glyphosate:
- due to the lack of data on the co-formulant Dodigen 4180, present at concentrations of over 10% in the product tested for glyphosate authorisation;
- because of the unacceptable impact on biodiversity;
- for applications presenting high long-term risks for mammals;
- for all non-professional applications;
- for all applications near residential buildings, parks, playgrounds, schools and hospitals.
If the objection is adopted (by a simple majority), it will be voted on at Parliament’s plenary session next month (20-23 November). If it is not, the three political groups that proposed it will represent it at the plenary session.
“We will be calling for a vote”, said Jutta Paulus, describing it as “a great pity that the European Parliament is being sidelined” in this procedure, which is governed by comitology rules.
An objection from Parliament is not legally binding. The European Commission is obliged to examine an objection adopted by the European Parliament, but not to act on it.
As for the EU Council, following the absence of a qualified majority for or against the Commission’s proposal, the Appeal Committee, at the level of the Secretaries of State or Ministers of the Member States, is due to meet and vote on Thursday 16 November (see EUROPE 13264/5).
To see the proposed parliamentary objection: https://aeur.eu/f/97l (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)