A new window opens to address a highly debated herbicide due to its health effects. This Friday, EU member states failed to secure the majority needed to approve a ten-year renewal of glyphosate. The agreement would have taken effect on December 15, with the European Commission proposing the renewal and the issue slated for further discussion next month. France and Germany blocked the proposal, marking a first setback, while Spain backed continuing the use of the product.
In total, twenty-seven delegates voted on the Commission’s plan to renew glyphosate for ten years in the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCOPAFF). The required majority to either approve or reject the renewal was not reached. This update comes from Efe, reflecting remarks from a community manager involved in the process.
As a consequence, the proposal, based on the EFSA view, will be forwarded to the Appeals Committee. The Commission’s plan is expected to be debated and voted on in the first half of November in Brussels. The administration, led by Ursula von der Leyen, reiterated that the decision on glyphosate renewal must be made before December 14, 2023, since the current approval expires on December 15, 2023.
Possible Carcinogenic Concerns
Glyphosate-containing products are primarily used to manage weeds that threaten crops in farming and horticulture. The World Health Organization had flagged potential carcinogenic risks in 2015, though subsequent assessments by the European Food Safety Authority and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) found no causal link to cancer. After two years of debate, Monsanto’s glyphosate product was approved in 2017. Its EU availability would continue, albeit for a shorter period than usual, rather than the standard 15 years, with last year’s license extended again until December 15, pending EFSA input.
EFSA’s assessment last year concluded that the level of risk does not justify a ban. It acknowledged that certain aspects could not be fully evaluated in the report, provided that pesticide use is accompanied by measures to safeguard human, animal, and environmental health. EFSA’s director general, Bernhard Url, admitted that not all data on the substance were available, hindering definitive conclusions on some issues. With that report in hand, the Community administration proposed last September to renew the glyphosate license for another decade with strict conditions targeting groundwater protection and risks to small mammals.
Contaminated Water and Surface Waters
Last month, a Green group study commissioned by the European Parliament and produced by the European Pesticide Action Network warned that surface waters across a dozen EU member states show glyphosate contamination. The study involved twelve EU countries including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and Spain, among others, and covered data up to late October 2022 after the agricultural season.
Surface waters in a dozen EU member states show glyphosate contamination, according to a report
Although use of the herbicide remains permitted in the EU, some nations have banned it at the national level, such as Belgium, Austria, France, and Germany. In Spain, Ecologistas en Acción reports that 34.6% of surface water sampling points show herbicide contamination, based on 2022 data. The Guadiana River is highlighted with 308.10 micrograms per liter, a level about 3,000 times the legal limit (Ecologistas en Acción). The year 2022 records show the worst pollution figures to date, with several basins showing elevated risk indicators.
In 2021, the Andalusian and other Mediterranean basins showed the highest number of stations at risk for glyphosate contamination, including the Guadiana, Tinto, Odiel, Piedras, and parts of the Tajo and Júcar basins. This pattern underscores ongoing environmental monitoring needs and regional variations in contamination risk.
Spain Signals Support for Renewal
Sources from Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) stressed that Spain remains positive about glyphosate renewal, aligning with EFSA’s scientific evaluations. They noted that the government’s stance follows the findings of independent evaluation reports and does not oppose extending the active material’s authorization. The government emphasized following the scientific assessments, which in this instance do not contradict a longer permission for agricultural use.
… The dialogue continues, with ongoing assessments guiding policy decisions in Brussels and member states, aiming to balance farming needs with health and environmental protections.
Notes: This analysis reflects the ongoing regulatory process and the evolving opinions among EU member states regarding glyphosate renewal and its implications for agriculture, health safety standards, and water quality.