They propose to extend the use of glyphosate for another ten years

2023-09-26 00:31:17

On the 20th, the European Commission proposed to extend the use of the herbicide active substance “glyphosate” for another ten years, until 2033, in the European Union, although community sources they opened to review and withdraw their approval before this period expires if new scientific studies appear that advise against it. Brussels justifies the extension of the permit to use glyphosate on the basis of the latest report of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which last July ruled out “critical areas of concern” in the use of the ‘herbicide, although he admitted that some issues had not been able to be evaluated.

“We have taken the decision based on sound scientific research”, remarked the spokesperson for food safety issues of the European Commission, Stefan De Keersmaecker. However, The World Health Organization (WHO) classified glyphosate as a “probably carcinogenic to humans” in a 2015 reportand environmental organizations report that, as it is not selective, this herbicide is capable of killing many organisms and thus harming biodiversity.

Periods of up to 15 years

European legislation provides that the permit to use pesticides or herbicides can be renewed for periods of up to 15 years, but in this case the proposal from Brussels proposes to extend the validity of glyphosate for a decade. “The European Commission will continue to analyze the enormous amount of scientific data we have and follow the new findings. In other words, we have proposed a 10-year term instead of the maximum period of 15 years”, explained De Keersmaecker.

With all, the proposal of the European Commission will have to be approved by a qualified majority by the governments of the member countries of the EU, who will vote on this issue next October 13. Only one EU Member State has been against renewing the approval of glyphosate during the previous talks held with the Commission, as explained by the same community sources, who did not want to specify which country it was.