In 2017, the active ingredient glyphosate received Annex 1 re-authorisation in the EU for five years.
While many EU countries are still working through approvals for products containing glyphosate following this decision, work has already begun on the next tranche of authorisation for the herbicide active.
The active continues to draw controversy over its alleged link to cancer. However, the scientific evidence for its safety remains robust, according to Bayer Crop Science’s Mark Buckingham.
Conference speakers Mark Buckingham of Bayer Crop Science, UFU president Ivor Ferguson, Steve Foster of Rothamsted Research and AHDB monitor farmer Richard Orr from Downpatrick. \ Houston Green
The Irish Farmers Journal spoke with Mark at the 2020 Ulster Arable Conference in Greenmount Agricultural College this week.
He explained that the re-authorisation process for the active in the EU has just started. The industry will be advocating for the authorisation period to be extended beyond five years for this tranche, possibly up to 15 years.
Listen to "The future of Glyphosate – a timeline" on Spreaker.
Timeline
While still subject to change, Mark provided an estimated timeline for the process.
The application for the renewal of the glyphosate was submitted on 12 December 2019 by the Glyphosate Renewal Group (GRG) to the evaluating member states, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Commission and all other EU member states.
The CRG is a new industry group which consists of a collection of companies seeking the renewal of the EU authorisation of glyphosate.
Current members include Adama Agan Ltd, Albaugh Europe SARL, Arysta Lifescience SAS, Barclay Chemicals Manufacturing Ltd, Bayer Agriculture bvba, Ciech Sarzyna SA, Nufarm GMBH & CoKG, Sinon Corporation and Syngenta Crop Protection AG.
Glyphosate remains a key herbicide on many EU farms.
The CRG’s member companies will pool resources and efforts to prepare a single dossier with all the scientific studies and information on the safety of glyphosate.
This dossier is expected to be submitted to the evaluating member states and the EFSA in June 2020.
The EU has recently announced an innovative renewal process which will see this dossier reviewed by four member states. These four rapporteur countries are:
The Netherlands, which is leading on human health. France, which is leading on eco-toxicology.Hungary and Sweden, which have minor roles.A decision from the EFSA is expected from the second half of 2021 onwards. Campaigning against renewal from NGOs is expected to intensify around this period.
Following this, pending a decision to approve re-authorisation of the active, the political process of comitology (consultation with every EU member state) is expected in 2022.
Read more
US authority says glyphosate ‘not likely’ to cause cancer
US judge upholds glyphosate cancer verdict, cuts damages
New French minister pledges glyphosate ban
Glyphosate cancer damages to be overturned – reports
Health Canada stands by decision to reauthorise glyphosate
Austria the first EU country to ban glyphosate
Germany states intent to ban glyphosate
Pre-emptive glyphosate resistance management
In 2017, the active ingredient glyphosate received Annex 1 re-authorisation in the EU for five years.
While many EU countries are still working through approvals for products containing glyphosate following this decision, work has already begun on the next tranche of authorisation for the herbicide active.
The active continues to draw controversy over its alleged link to cancer. However, the scientific evidence for its safety remains robust, according to Bayer Crop Science’s Mark Buckingham.
Conference speakers Mark Buckingham of Bayer Crop Science, UFU president Ivor Ferguson, Steve Foster of Rothamsted Research and AHDB monitor farmer Richard Orr from Downpatrick. \ Houston Green
The Irish Farmers Journal spoke with Mark at the 2020 Ulster Arable Conference in Greenmount Agricultural College this week.
He explained that the re-authorisation process for the active in the EU has just started. The industry will be advocating for the authorisation period to be extended beyond five years for this tranche, possibly up to 15 years.
Listen to "The future of Glyphosate – a timeline" on Spreaker.
Timeline
While still subject to change, Mark provided an estimated timeline for the process.
The application for the renewal of the glyphosate was submitted on 12 December 2019 by the Glyphosate Renewal Group (GRG) to the evaluating member states, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Commission and all other EU member states.
The CRG is a new industry group which consists of a collection of companies seeking the renewal of the EU authorisation of glyphosate.
Current members include Adama Agan Ltd, Albaugh Europe SARL, Arysta Lifescience SAS, Barclay Chemicals Manufacturing Ltd, Bayer Agriculture bvba, Ciech Sarzyna SA, Nufarm GMBH & CoKG, Sinon Corporation and Syngenta Crop Protection AG.
Glyphosate remains a key herbicide on many EU farms.
The CRG’s member companies will pool resources and efforts to prepare a single dossier with all the scientific studies and information on the safety of glyphosate.
This dossier is expected to be submitted to the evaluating member states and the EFSA in June 2020.
The EU has recently announced an innovative renewal process which will see this dossier reviewed by four member states. These four rapporteur countries are:
The Netherlands, which is leading on human health. France, which is leading on eco-toxicology.Hungary and Sweden, which have minor roles.A decision from the EFSA is expected from the second half of 2021 onwards. Campaigning against renewal from NGOs is expected to intensify around this period.
Following this, pending a decision to approve re-authorisation of the active, the political process of comitology (consultation with every EU member state) is expected in 2022.
Read more
US authority says glyphosate ‘not likely’ to cause cancer
US judge upholds glyphosate cancer verdict, cuts damages
New French minister pledges glyphosate ban
Glyphosate cancer damages to be overturned – reports
Health Canada stands by decision to reauthorise glyphosate
Austria the first EU country to ban glyphosate
Germany states intent to ban glyphosate
Pre-emptive glyphosate resistance management
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