The EC adopts the renewal of glyphosate for 10 years

28 November 2023

As announced in a statement on 16 November, the European Commission has adopted the Implementing Regulation to renew, for 10 years, the approval of glyphosate.

This is in line with the EU’s legislation which obliges the Commission to adopt an Implementing Regulation when no qualified majority, either in favor or against, is reached in the Standing Committee and in the Appeal Committee, as in the case of glyphosate this autumn.

The renewal proposed by the European Commission is based on an assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that did not consider dietary risk assessment for consumers, even after finding a high long-term risk to mammals in 12 out of 23 proposed uses for glyphosate. Since 2022, over 85 new scientific studies on glyphosate were published, but these were not considered in EFSA’s risk analysis.

Besides, glyphosate was classified as a “probable carcinogen” for humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC in 2015, and numerous scientific studies demonstrated the contamination and negative effects on living organisms caused by this substance.

The risk assessment conducted by EFSA rely on the hazard assessment carried out by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Yet, EFSA recognises “data gaps are identified”. When confronted with a lack of data, it is crucial to apply the precautionary principle, prioritising the well-being of individuals and the environment.