Pesticides: published EFSA conclusion for glyphosate

EFSA published its conclusion for the peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of glyphosate. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of glyphosate as a herbicide as proposed by the applicants, covering uses pre-sowing, pre-planting and pre-emergence plus post-harvest in vegetables and sugarbeet; post-emergence of weeds in orchards, vineyards, row vegetables, railway tracks against emerged annual, biennial and perennial weeds. Moreover, uses as spot treatment against invasive species in agricultural and non-agricultural areas, and in vegetables and sugar beet against couch grass are also included. These uses result in a sufficient herbicidal efficacy against the target emerged annual weeds, emerged perennial and biennial weeds, giant hogweed and Japanese knotweed, and couch grass.

The assessment of the data package revealed no issues that could not be finalised or that needed to be included as critical areas of concern with respect to identity, physical–chemical and technical properties of the active substance and the formulation for representative uses, and analytical methods. In the area of mammalian toxicology and non-dietary exposure, no critical areas of concern were identified. In the area of residues, the consumer risk assessment could not be finalized. Although preliminary results indicated residues in rotational crops above the limit of quantification, the number of rotational crop field trials was insufficient to address all relevant scenarios. Therefore, a higher consumer exposure to residues of glyphosate than the one considered in the current risk assessment cannot be excluded. However, it is not expected that this might lead to an exceedance of the toxicological reference values. Therefore, no critical concern was identified.

The data available on environmental fate and behavior were sufficient to carry out the required environmental exposure assessments at EU level for the representative uses. The assessment of the data package revealed no issues that could not be finalized or that needed to be included as critical areas of concern with respect to ecotoxicology for the representative use assessed. A high long-term risk to mammals was concluded for 12 of the 23 representative uses based on tier 1 assumptions. Following the assessment based on the available evidence, glyphosate does not meet the criteria for endocrine disruption as laid down in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No1107/2009, as amended by Commission Regulation (EU) No 2018/605.

More information: https://frucom.eu/circulars/4139:pesticides-efsa-glyphosate-risk-assessment.html , https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8164

Contact: ksaari@frucom.eu