BRUSSELS, September 20 (Reuters) – The European Commission proposed on Wednesday to extend by 10 years the authorization of glyphosate, the active substance in the weedkiller Roundup from Bayer AG.
Glyphosate has become a subject of controversy since the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded in 2015 that the chemical was likely carcinogenic to humans.
Bayer argues otherwise, claiming that decades of studies have shown its product to be safe.
To be accepted, the European Commission’s proposal must be approved by 15 of the 27 member states representing at least 65% of the population of the European Union (EU).
In July, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said it had “not identified any areas of critical concern” preventing the renewal of glyphosate’s authorization. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; writing by Zhifan Liu)
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