After much deliberation and assessment, the European Commission has announced the renewal of the license for glyphosate, the widely used weedkiller compound, allowing its use in European Union (EU) countries for another ten years. The decision comes with certain conditions and restrictions, and EU member states have the option to impose additional limitations based on potential risks and biodiversity concerns.

In a statement released yesterday, the Commission stated that the renewal was based on thorough safety evaluations conducted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The ban on the use of glyphosate to dry crops before harvest and the inclusion of measures to protect non-target organisms are among the new conditions imposed.

Glyphosate, the active ingredient in the popular herbicide Roundup, has long been a topic of debate regarding its safety for use on food crops and its potential environmental impact. Various studies have hinted at a possible link between glyphosate and certain cancers, while others argue that its proper usage does not pose harm to consumers. Disagreements among researchers continue, despite extensive investigations by food and chemical safety agencies.

The previous renewal of glyphosate's license in the EU was granted for a five-year period in 2017. However, when the authorization was set to expire last December, the EU granted a one-year extension to allow the EFSA to review approximately 2,400 studies on glyphosate and make a recommendation to member states.

The Commission's proposal to extend the license for ten years failed to receive majority support from member states, resulting in the Commission taking the decision upon itself before the current approval period expired on December 15th.

EFSA's investigation, released in July, concluded that no critical concerns were identified regarding human and animal health or the environment. However, factors such as the safety of a specific impurity in glyphosate and the risk to aquatic plants remained unassessed.

Last year, the ECHA concluded that glyphosate did not meet the scientific criteria for carcinogenicity, DNA changes, or harm to fertility and offspring. However, it maintained warnings about serious eye damage and toxicity to aquatic life.

Robin Mesnage, a toxicologist at King's College London, supports the Commission's decision to continue glyphosate's use, emphasizing that proper protection measures must be taken to avoid harm to farmers and users during application. Mesnage believes that the conflicting studies on glyphosate, some of which are of poor quality, make it difficult to determine the product's risks to consumers. He further warns that banning glyphosate could result in the use of potentially more toxic alternatives and increased food production costs.

There are critics of the Commission's decision, such as Natacha Cingotti, a campaigner at the Health and Environment Alliance in Brussels. Cingotti argues that the amount of scientific evidence regarding glyphosate's health impacts makes it unacceptable to proceed with its use and calls for a shift toward more sustainable agricultural practices.

The renewal of glyphosate's license has raised both support and concern, reflecting the ongoing debate surrounding its safety. As the EU moves forward with its decision, it remains to be seen how further studies and ongoing discussions will shape the future of glyphosate use in agriculture.