News in brief: The European Commission is set to vote on October 13 on whether to renew the authorisation of glyphosate for an additional ten years. This is a contentious decision, with some EU Member States calling for a ban due to health concerns, while others support renewal, highlighting its importance in agriculture.
The European Commission will vote on October 13 to renew the authorisation of glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide, for a further ten years.
Glyphosate was authorised for use in the European Union (EU) in 2017 for an initial five years and later extended for a one more year in December 2022. At the time, the decision to renew the authorisation was based on conclusions from a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) report, published in July, which found that glyphosate did not pose a ‘critical area of concern.’
However, the decision has given rise to debate and concern within EU Member States. Some countries, such as France, Italy, and the Netherlands, have called for a ban on glyphosate, citing concerns about its potential health risks, particularly its link to cancer.
Meanwhile, countries like Germany and Spain have supported the renewal of the authorisation, arguing that glyphosate is essential for agriculture and that there are no suitable alternatives.
The outcome of the vote on October 13 is uncertain. If the Commission approves the renewal, it will need to be endorsed by a qualified majority of EU Member States. If the Commission rejects the renewal, it will be banned from the EU markets.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a cancer risk to humans. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified glyphosate as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans.’
