Levels of glyphosate in agricultural land and approval process for glyphosate
18.10.2017
Question for written answer P-006535-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (ALDE)
On 10 October 2017, a scientific study[1] was published by Wageningen University in the journal Science of the Total Environment on levels of glyphosate in agricultural land. The study shows that 45% of agricultural land in Europe contains glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA). The researchers took more than 300 soil samples and conducted tests on agricultural land in ten different Member States.
Does the Commission agree that the results of the study imply that there is a possible inconsistency with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, concerning the approval criteria for active substances, and Article 191(2) TFEU concerning the precautionary principle? If not, why not?
In view of the results of the study, will the Commission review the approval of glyphosate in the light of new scientific knowledge, in accordance with Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, concerning the review of approvals?
Has the Commission considered adopting official standards for the maximum presence and concentration of residues of active substances in the soil, taking into account, inter alia, the effects on biodiversity, water quality, public health and soil quality, and has the Commission taken residues in the soil into account when granting previous approvals? If not, why not?
- [1] Silva, V., et al., Distribution of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in agricultural topsoils of the European Union, Sci Total Environ (2017), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.093