After a long assessment process of this well-know herbicide molecule, according to the experts, scientific evidence has been insufficient to consider it as a CMR. EcoMundo reviews this important decision.
What is glyphosate?
Glyphosate is one of the main active ingredients in pesticides. It is used to prevent the growth of certain plants or to eliminate part or all of them. In the European Union, it is extensively used as a herbicide in agriculture before seeding and also for the maintenance of the forests.
This molecule with the chemical formula C3H8NO5P is well-known to the general public, particularly as it is the main component of the infamous weed killer “Roundup”.
Doubts on its carcinogenicity set aside by a transparent review process
Its carcinogen, mutagen or reprotoxic effects were a subject of concern covered by the media due to its widespread use in agriculture and forest maintenance.
In December 2016, the RAC had its first discussion on the classification and labelling of glyphosate. Six organisations had been invited to give presentations before the plenary session, including the German Federal Institute for Safety and Health (BAuA), the candidate Member State responsible for the dossier submission. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) also took part in the discussion as well as a representative from the non-profit organisation Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL).
Germany launched a public consultation on glyphosate, to which any person or entity could contribute to. Any intervention had to be taken into account by the experts responsible for the public consultation. For glyphosate, around 300 comments had been published on ECHA’s website!
Such practices meant that the process could not be tainted by corruption or lobbies. ECHA’s video explains in more detail the role of the institution in the harmonised classification decision concerning glyphosate.
Glyphosate will not be included in the Candidate List
According to the RAC experts, the scientific evidence does not match the criteria enabling its classification as a CMR, placing it outside the SVHC list for substances of very high concern, or Candidate List.
This decision is based solely on the hazardousness of the substance. Exposure risks are not taken into account. These risks are only considered when deciding on the renewal of its use as a pesticide according to the European Regulation on Plant Protection Products.
The RAC guiding ECHA
The RAC (Risk Assessment Committee) is ECHA’s expert scientific committee. Its role is to prepare ECHA’s opinions on the risks of substances for the REACH and CLP regulations.
The RAC prepares scientific opinions and makes recommendations to the Commission to help in the decision-making process concerning the dangers of substances on three levels:
- European Harmonised Classification and Labelling of the substance
- Restriction of the substance (inclusion into Annex XVII of the REACH regulation)
- Authorisation of the substance (inclusion into Annex XIV of the REACH regulation)
The scientific committee includes members from almost all European states. They are nominated by their state and then by ECHA’s management committee.
Would you like to know more on this topic?
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