Glyphosate: authorise for just seven years and professional uses only, urge MEPs

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details 13.04.16
Publication Date 13/04/2016
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The European Parliament's environment committee recommended on the 22 March 2016 that the European Commission should not renew the authorisation to use the herbicide glyphosate, so long as serious concerns remained about its carcinogenicity and endocrine disruptive properties.

Subsequently, MEPs in plenary session on the 13 April 2016 recommended the renewal should happen ofr a period of 7 years instead of 15 years, and only for professional uses.

MEPs argued the Commission should set up an independent review and disclose all the scientific evidence that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) used to assess glyphosate.

However, farmers representative expressed concerned at the prospect of a ban on the use of the most heavily used herbicide in the world. Copa & Cogeca sent letter to EU Commissioner Andriukaitis on the 25 May 2016 expressing major concerns about possibility of not renewing the authorisation of glyphosate & disregarding the EFSA’s conclusions.

Following a May 2016 meeting at which national governmental representatives had failed to come to a consensus agreement the EU Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed(SCoPAFF) was expected to re-examine the issue at a meeting in early June 2016.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160321IPR20296/
Related Links
ESO: Background information: MEPs object to three GM soybean authorisations http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-meps-object-to-three-gm-soybean-authorisations/
ESO: Background information: EFSA updates toxicological profile http://www.europeansources.info/record/glyphosate-efsa-updates-toxicological-profile/
Blog: EP: EPRS, 07.04.16: Renewing authorisation for glyphosate http://epthinktank.eu/2016/04/07/renewing-authorisation-for-glyphosate/
European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 13.04.16: Glyphosate: authorise for just seven years and professional uses only, urge MEPs http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160407IPR21781/
EurActiv, 13.04.16: Germany set to approve glyphosate, despite public opinion http://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/germany-set-to-approve-glyphosate-despite-public-opinion/
EurActiv, 15.04.16: Parliament agrees to re-authorise glyphosate, demands restrictions http://www.euractiv.com/section/science-policymaking/news/parliament-agrees-to-re-authorise-glyphosate-demands-restrictions/
Euro|Topics: Debates, May 2016: Will glyphosate again be used on fields? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/155376/will-glyphosate-again-be-used-on-fields
Reuters, 19.05.16: EU delays vote on weed-killer glyphosate license amid cancer row http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-eu-glyphosate-idUKKCN0YA1M1
EurActiv, 19.05.16: EU delays re-approval for weedkiller glyphosate http://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/eu-delays-re-approval-for-weedkiller-glyphosate/
EUObserver, 19.05.16: EU declines to renew glyphosate licence https://euobserver.com/environment/133478
Deutsche Welle, 20.05.16: Delay on glyphosate decision leaves EU farmers in limbo http://dw.com/p/1Ir21
The Guardian, 17.05.16: UN/WHO panel in conflict of interest row over glyphosate cancer risk http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/17/unwho-panel-in-conflict-of-interest-row-over-glyphosates-cancer-risk
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COPA / COGECA: Press Release, 18.05.16: Ahead of the EU Standing Committee on Plants, animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF) vote , Copa & Cogeca call on the EC to renew authorisation of the most widely used herbicide active substance glyphosate http://www.copa-cogeca.be/Download.ashx?ID=1518561&fmt=pdf
European Commission: Food Safety: Plants: Standing Committees: Standing Committee on Phytopharmaceuticals http://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/standing_committees/sc_phytopharmaceuticals/index_en.htm
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EurActiv, 30.05.16: Glyphosate authorisation back on the table next week http://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/glyphosate-authorisation-back-on-the-table-next-week/
COPA / COGECA: Press Release, 25.05.16: Copa & Cogeca send letter to EU Commissioner Andriukaitis expressing major concerns about possibility of not renewing authorization of glyphosate & disregarding EFSA’s conclusions http://www.copa-cogeca.be/Download.ashx?ID=1523340&fmt=pdf
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