No majority for glyphosate. SAFE confirms its opposition to the renewal

13 October 2023

The re-approval of the controversial herbicide glyphosate in the EU did not secure a majority decision in its first vote in the European Parliament today (October 13), highlighting concerns about its safety. MEPs failed to reach a consensus in the Commission-led Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, with only 18 countries supporting reauthorisation to extend the use of glyphosate for 10 years, falling short of the required majority. France and Germany’s abstentions were particularly significant, leading to this deadlock. The other countries not supporting the reauthorisation include Croatia, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, Slovenia, and Malta.

The European Commission can still independently approve glyphosate before its current license expires in December, but an “appeal” vote is scheduled for November, giving countries another opportunity to make a decision. The EU executive is expected to make revisions to its proposal before the appeal vote.

SAFE is relieved by this development, and confirms its strong opposition to glyphosate reauthorisation.

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.

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.