the European Food Safety Authority does not oppose the renewal of its authorization in the EU, but points to data gaps

His study was eagerly awaited. IEuropean Food Safety Authority (Efsa) concludes, Thursday, July 6, that glyphosate, a controversial weedkiller, does not present any “critical area of ​​concern” preventing the renewal of its authorization in the European Union. “A concern is defined as critical when it affects all proposed uses of the active substance under evaluation”specifies the statement of the Authority, which automatically prevents its authorization or the renewal of its authorization.

However, Efsa observes several shortcomings and outstanding questions, which will have to “be taken into account by the European Commission and the Member States” in the next step. She also notes “a high long-term risk in mammals” for half of the proposed uses of glyphosate.

An authorization until December 15

This study, submitted Thursday to the European authorities, will serve as a basis for the EU to decide whether or not to renew the authorization of the herbicide for five years. The current authorization runs until December 15. In total, the report, which will be made public in July, is based on 2,400 studies, a file of 180,000 pages and called on 90 experts from the Member States, argues the Authority.

Glyphosate, the active substance in Monsanto’s widely used Roundup, was classified in 2015 as a “probable carcinogen” for humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO).