The identified data gaps can be addressed through risk mitigation measures and conditions in the renewal approval.

On 26 July 2023, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its Conclusions [link] on the assessment of the impact of glyphosate on the health of humans, animals, and the environment, which did not identify any critical areas of concern. 

The Conclusions identified several ‘data gaps’- issues that could not be finalised or outstanding issues, which are standard and the case for all substances including biologicals and low-risk solutions.

The Commission has stated that in the case of glyphosate, the data gaps can be addressed through risk mitigation measures and conditions in the renewal approval. The Glyphosate Renewal Group (GRG) is confident that all of these can be addressed at the member states level and with ongoing studies. 

An example of an outstanding issue is biodiversity; EU experts recognised that the risks associated with the representative uses of glyphosate are complex and depend on multiple factors. They also recognised there are no harmonized methodologies on how to conduct a risk assessment and agreed specific protection goals. 

EFSA concluded that while the available information does not allow firm conclusions to be drawn on this aspect of the risk assessment, risk managers can consider mitigation measures.

As the next step, the European Commission will put forward a renewal report and a draft regulation to the Member States proposing a renewal or non-renewal of the authorisation of glyphosate, based on EFSA’s Conclusions and the Renewal Assessment Report (RAR) produced by the Assessment Group (AGG), the rapporteur member states.

The representatives of the EU Member States will then vote on the draft regulation in the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF).  

Consumers and civil society at large can have confidence in the EU system for regulating pesticide-active substances, which is among the most stringent in the world. The GRG has full confidence in the EU regulatory system and trusts the decision is science-based.

For any inquiries, contact the GRG via grg@glyphosate.eu