MEPs debate the proposal to extend the authorisation to use glyphosate in the EU for ten more years.Glyphosate is currently approved in the EU until 15 December 2023 and can therefore be used as an active substance in plant protection products (pesticides) until that date, if authorised by national authorities. On 19 September 2023, the Commission put forward a draft regulation proposing to renew the approval of glyphosate, subject to certain conditions, for another ten years with a view to making a final decision by 15 December 2023. Opening statement by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety and by Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

plenary session

use of glyphosate (T)

KYRIAKIDES, Stella (CY, EC)

NAVARRO RÍOS, Pascual Ignacio

The proposed extension of glyphosate in the EU: opening statement by Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union, and by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pascual Ignacio NAVARRO R&Iacute;OS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union, Thank you, President. President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, I'd like to thank you for inviting me to take part in this debate about the proposed extension of glyphosate in the EU for health, biodiversity and the Green Deal.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pascual Ignacio NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union, For years, experts and scientists have disagreed when it comes to the potential effects and risks associated with the use of glyphosate. This is a complex matter and it is extremely important for our citizens.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pascual Ignacio NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union, When it comes to this substance. As for any authorised substance for plant health in the EU, in the EU there needs to be guarantees based in scientific evidence. In July this year, after a long revision process in peer review, the EFSA concluded that glyphosate was not linked to any areas of critical concern.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pascual Ignacio NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union, 'The conclusion of the European Authority is based on an exhaustive risk assessment, which takes into account thousands of studies conducted in line with very strict criteria. I would like to remind you of the joint work as co-legislated, which was concluded in 2019, improving the transparency of the of EFSA together with the new law which entered into force in 2021.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pascual Ignacio NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union, Therefore, it is important to acknowledge the work of the authority on this very complex matter. On the basis for the evaluation, the Commission developed a draft implementing regulation, which it proposes to extend the approval of it for ten years. The standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed is planned for the 12th and 13th of October.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pascual Ignacio NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union, Of course, data will continue to be compiled on the use of glyphosate. We are convinced that the European Authority, together with experts from Member States, will follow a progress closely with scientific rigour when taking decision based with full control of checks on glyphosate and will revise the conclusions if it is necessary for public health or the environment.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pascual Ignacio NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union, We are all aware, aware however, of the need to work together to avoid chemical pesticides and to provide valid alternatives to farmers and food producers so they can continue to supply healthy, affordable and safe food to all European citizens. I can confirm that the work on the regulation and we hope that the negotiations will progress swiftly.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pascual Ignacio NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union, We have called on the Commission to move forward on this. The Spanish Presidency has the objective to come to an agreement on the Council position on this regulation before the end of the year.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pascual Ignacio NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union, Before I conclude, unfortunately, I will have to leave this session soon. But the Council will be paying attention to all of the interventions by MEPs in this debate. Thank you very much.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Mr. President, Mr. Secretary of State, Honourable Members. First of all, I want to thank you for the opportunity to bring you up to date on the ongoing decision making procedure for the renewal of approval for glyphosate. This is an issue that has been and is of great interest to people in the European Union and of course to our farmers.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, First of all, I want to start my short intervention by stating that without any doubt human health and protection of the environment are the highest priorities for this Commission. Glyphosate is the most studied pesticide in the world.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, As a result, the renewal process, which started in 2019, involved an evaluation of the highest volume of scientific information for any active substance, including not only studies carried out by the applicants themselves, but also a large number of studies available in the open scientific literature.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, This evaluation required a large amount of resources from the four rapporteur Member States, namely France, Sweden, Hungary and the Netherlands, from the European Chemicals Agency. ECHA, and from the European Food and Safety Authority, EFSA. I want to take this opportunity for thanking them for their immense efforts.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, As you may know, last year, after a process involving a public consultation and an expert hearing, the ECHA Risk Assessment Committee unanimously agreed that there is no evidence to classify glyphosate as a carcinogen. This comes to confirm an earlier assessment of 2017, the risk assessment delivered by the rapporteur Member States was also subject to public consultation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, This led to the submission of further evidence, also then considered by EFSA and all other Member States during the peer review process. In its final conclusions on the risk assessment, EFSA concluded that there are no critical areas of concern that would preclude renewal of approval.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, This key outcome underpins the Commission's proposal to renew the approval. True, EFSA identified some data gaps and issues for which assessment could not only be finalised. However, this is the case with practically all EFSA conclusions for active substances.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, In their role as risk managers, the Commission and the Member States carefully assess the identified gaps and issues that have not been finalised and they examine whether appropriate risk mitigation is available to ensure that human health and the environment are fully protected.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Data gaps, therefore, do not mean that the approval cannot be renewed. For the renewal of approval of glyphosate, the Commission has proposed a number of conditions and restrictions. These are based on the results of the scientific assessment and take into account the fact that the responsibility for authorising plant protection products lies firmly with the Member States in keeping with the subsidiarity principle.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, 'For example, our proposal requires that Member States look carefully at consumer exposure for succeeding crops. Similarly, it requires that Member States examine all co-formulants, assess the need for protection of ground and surface water, any effects on small herbivores, and assess indirect effects on biodiversity. We also propose banning its use for desiccation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, At the Standing Committee of the 22nd of September, many Member States welcomed the proposal. A few advocated further specific restrictions. However, the vast majority disagreed with this, noting in particular that there is no evidence in the scientific assessment that would require such further restrictions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, And in any case, Member States will have the possibility to restrict the use of plant protection products, including glyphosate, at national or regional level, if they consider this necessary in order to protect biodiversity.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Honourable Members, renewal approval can be granted for a maximum of 15 years. At the same time, scientific research into glyphosate is ongoing, with new information published regularly. On the other hand, we have now assessed the substance twice in a relatively short period and each time coming to the same conclusion.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Having weighed up these factors, the Commission considers that a ten year renewal of approval is appropriate. Several Member States have asked and suggested for a 15 year renewal. The Commission has proposed renewal of approval for ten years, for the reasons I have already explained. Of course, I want to assure you that this does not mean we will stand idly should new evidence emerge.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, I want to be very clear that we have undertaken and there will be a permanent scrutiny. Whenever and whichever new evidence shows that the approval criteria are not met, we will take action immediately to amend and even withdraw the approval if this is warranted. I will conclude, by emphasising one important point, the rapporteur Member States, the agencies and the Commission have acted with due diligence and in full compliance with the legislation and with complete transparency.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, I am fully aware that many of you are disappointed with the outcome of this assessment process, but as I have said many times, this podium from the beginning of my mandate must follow science as confirmed by independent agencies, which follow existing rules. If we are to have robust, independent and evidence based systems, we must abide by their results. Thank you.