EU states reject unlimited approval for pesticides such as glyphosate

The EU states are opposing the EU Commission's plans to allow the unlimited approval of many plant protection products such as glyphosate. Regular new approvals for active ingredients should only be abolished for active ingredients and agents with low risk, as the states set out in their common position for the negotiations with the European Parliament. Agents such as glyphosate would not be affected - unlike the EU Commission's proposal.

To date, approval of an active ingredient in the EU has only been granted for a limited period of time and must then be reassessed. Without successful renewal, the approval expires. The Brussels authority proposed in December that all but the most dangerous substances could be approved indefinitely in the future. According to the Commission's wishes, renewals and targeted re-evaluations should be carried out if there are scientific reasons for doing so.

The position of the EU states is stricter here, but still provides for longer approval than before. In the future, initial approvals for normal active ingredients should be limited to 15 years (an extension of five years), and for subsequent approvals by ten years up to 25 years. In order to compensate for this, the responsible authority should, among other things, regularly check whether there is new scientific knowledge that should trigger a reassessment.

The new regulation is intended to relieve the burden on authorities, simplify and speed up procedures and strengthen European competitiveness. Ireland's Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon referred to less burdens on farmers and planning security as the goal. At the same time, high health and environmental standards should be maintained, “which establish the trust of our citizens”. Ireland currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, in which the ministers of the 27 EU states take decisions.

Before changes come into force, both the EU states and the European Parliament must agree. The states want to negotiate with MPs as soon as they have adopted their position and find a provisional agreement this year.

Among other things, the states also support the EU Commission's plan that pesticide products whose approval ends will be allowed to be sold and used up for 3 years in the future - previously it was 1.5 years.

The National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina had criticized this idea due to health and environmental risks. “It prolongs avoidable exposure to substances whose risks have already been classified as unacceptable,” says the Leopoldina, justifying its assessment. The scientists also expressed concerns about an unlimited approval of active ingredients.