Alan Harman
The European Union punted and ran over the continued use glyphosate after EU countries failed to make a decision on a new approval.
As a result, the European Commission extended its approval of the pesticide until European Chemical Agency issues an opinion by the end of next year.
The Commission says despite its repeated efforts to address concerns expressed about the re-approval of glyphosate, member states were not prepared to take responsibility for a decision.
No qualified majority was reached by the Standing Committee or the Appeal Committee.
As a result, taking into account the stringent scientific assessment of the active substance by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the member states’ national agencies, the Commission says it extended the approval of glyphosate until the end of 2017 at the latest.
By then, an additional opinion on the properties of the active substance is expected from the European Chemicals Agency.
With the extension of the approval, the Commission has already presented three recommendations to restrict the use of glyphosate.
Discussions with the member states have started at expert level, and the Commission will work to have them adopted as soon as possible.
The recommendations include a ban of a co-formulant called POE-tallowamine from glyphosate based products; minimize the use of the substance in public parks, public playgrounds and gardens; and minimize the pre-harvest use of glyphosate.
The Commission says its latest discussions with member states on this went nowhere.
“The Commission regrets that member states have not yet been able to agree to these restricted conditions and will direct the necessary efforts to have them adopted as soon as possible,” it says in a statement.
Glyphosate, an active substance used for the production of pesticides, has been authorized in the EU since 2002 and is the most frequently used herbicide worldwide and in the EU.
Glyphosate-based pesticides are used in agriculture and horticulture, primarily to combat weeds that compete with cultivated crops.
The EU cannot authorize the placing on the market of pesticides, that’s the role of the member states, but active substances in the pesticides have to be approved at EU level.
. The EU approval of an active substance is only granted for up to 15 years and must be renewed regularly.
Glyphosate has been under evaluation, since 2012, for a possible renewal of the approval. But with its approval set to expire June 30, and no decision from member states, the Commission acted.
Still, the big Copa – Cogeca union alliance said it regretted the failure to give full re-authorization to glyphosate and expressed serious concern about the uncertainty that has been created.
“On the basis of the European Food Safety Authority’s opinion, the EU should have re-authorised this substance for use in crop production for the full term,” Copa – Cogeca secretary-general Pekka Pesonen said.
“Instead, its use has only been extended for 18 months until Dec. 31 2017 leaving producers in a very uncertain situation and preventing them from being able to plan ahead.
“Until the European Chemicals Agency gives its review on this substance, EU farmers need to be ensured that their competitiveness and capacity to supply quality food is not put to risk.”
Alan Harman
The European Union punted and ran over the continued use glyphosate after EU countries failed to make a decision on a new approval.
As a result, the European Commission extended its approval of the pesticide until European Chemical Agency issues an opinion by the end of next year.
The Commission says despite its repeated efforts to address concerns expressed about the re-approval of glyphosate, member states were not prepared to take responsibility for a decision.
No qualified majority was reached by the Standing Committee or the Appeal Committee.
As a result, taking into account the stringent scientific assessment of the active substance by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the member states’ national agencies, the Commission says it extended the approval of glyphosate until the end of 2017 at the latest.
By then, an additional opinion on the properties of the active substance is expected from the European Chemicals Agency.
With the extension of the approval, the Commission has already presented three recommendations to restrict the use of glyphosate.
Discussions with the member states have started at expert level, and the Commission will work to have them adopted as soon as possible.
The recommendations include a ban of a co-formulant called POE-tallowamine from glyphosate based products; minimize the use of the substance in public parks, public playgrounds and gardens; and minimize the pre-harvest use of glyphosate.
The Commission says its latest discussions with member states on this went nowhere.
“The Commission regrets that member states have not yet been able to agree to these restricted conditions and will direct the necessary efforts to have them adopted as soon as possible,” it says in a statement.
Glyphosate, an active substance used for the production of pesticides, has been authorized in the EU since 2002 and is the most frequently used herbicide worldwide and in the EU.
Glyphosate-based pesticides are used in agriculture and horticulture, primarily to combat weeds that compete with cultivated crops.
The EU cannot authorize the placing on the market of pesticides, that’s the role of the member states, but active substances in the pesticides have to be approved at EU level.
. The EU approval of an active substance is only granted for up to 15 years and must be renewed regularly.
Glyphosate has been under evaluation, since 2012, for a possible renewal of the approval. But with its approval set to expire June 30, and no decision from member states, the Commission acted.
Still, the big Copa – Cogeca union alliance said it regretted the failure to give full re-authorization to glyphosate and expressed serious concern about the uncertainty that has been created.
“On the basis of the European Food Safety Authority’s opinion, the EU should have re-authorised this substance for use in crop production for the full term,” Copa – Cogeca secretary-general Pekka Pesonen said.
“Instead, its use has only been extended for 18 months until Dec. 31 2017 leaving producers in a very uncertain situation and preventing them from being able to plan ahead.
“Until the European Chemicals Agency gives its review on this substance, EU farmers need to be ensured that their competitiveness and capacity to supply quality food is not put to risk.”
