1m signatures in glyphosate hearts and minds battle
EU approval of glyphosate will require a qualified majority of member states
More than 1m signatures from concerned citizens represent the latest salvo fired in the battle for hearts and minds over the most widely used herbicide in the EU.
EU rules stipulate that a petition with 1m validated signatures from at least seven member states must be considered by the commission, which must justify its choice to act upon it or not.
The European Commission’s formal response is awaited after more than 1m signed a #StopGlyphosate European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) to ban the glyphosate weedkiller, reform the EU’s pesticide approval process, and set mandatory targets to reduce pesticide use in the EU.
It comes ahead of the final decisions on a new EU licence for glyphosate (which is the active ingredient in Roundup and similar weedkillers).
In June 2016, the European Commission extended glyphosate authorisation for a further limited period (which will expire at the end of this year), to allow the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) complete its assessment, which provides the legal basis for chemical hazard classification of glyphosate in Europe.
Earlier, the EU’s European Food Safety Authority had concluded that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans and can be used safely without putting consumers or users at risk.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a semi-autonomous part of the World Health Organisation, had said in March 2015 that glyphosate was “probably carcinogenic to humans”.
In mid-March, the RAC concluded that glyphosate does not warrant classification as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction.
Therefore glyphosate does not meet any of the substance non-approval criteria specified in the Plant Protection Products Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009).
The RAC agreed to maintain the existing classification of glyphosate as a substance causing serious eye damage and being toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.
The implication of this classification is that appropriate precautionary measures should be put in place for use of glyphosate.
The RAC opinion was adopted by consensus with the full support of all members.
The European Commission will make a proposal about the renewal of glyphosate, to a technical experts standing committee meeting.
The European Commission is widely expected to suggest a ten-year renewal period for glyphosate.
Farmers have called for a 15-year approval, and warned that creating doubt about EU science-based decision-making processes damages the credibility of EU authorities.
They said it also jeopardises high safety standards, while putting EU farmers in a less competitive and uncertain position vis a vis their non-EU competitors.
Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the EU.
According to a report by UK-based consultancies, Oxford Economics and The Anderson Centre, banning glyphosate could lead to UK wheat production falling by 20%, and UK farm output falling by £940 million.
EU Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis made a spirited defence in the European Parliament of plans to renew the approval of glyphosate, despite a hostile reception from several MEPs.
Some MEPs called for a glyphosate phase-out or moratorium.
Others called for the launch of an independent review on glyphosate.
Many MEPs agreed that low-risk herbicides should be better promoted.
MEPs said correspondence from Monsanto, owner and producer of Roundup, a herbicide based on glyphosate, has shed doubt on the credibility of some Monsanto-sponsored studies, part of the evidence used by EFSA and ECHA to evaluate glyphosate.
But allegations stemming from “Monsanto papers”, if true, would have no impact on safety assessment conclusions, said Commissioner Andriukaitis.
He has said the commission will not renew the EU approval of glyphosate without the support of a qualified majority of member states.
Up to now, EU member states have failed to produce a majority firmly in favour of or against approving glyphosate.
It was France and Germany abstaining from voting that forced the commission to extend glyphosate licensing by 18 months at the end of June 2016 (although German Chancellor Angela Merkel, one of the EU’s most powerful politicians, has said she backs farmers using the controversial weed killer).
A qualified majority for a proposal requires 16 out of the 28 member states to vote in favour, and these states must represent at least 65% of the EU population.
