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BRUSSELS, July 6 (Reuters) – The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said on Thursday it “has not identified any areas of critical concern” preventing the renewal of authorization for the active substance glyphosate Roundup weed killer from Bayer AG.
The EU authorization for the chemical that has been widely used by farmers for decades is due to expire at the end of the year, with EFSA’s findings a key factor in deciding whether to renew it.
In 2015, the World Health Organization’s cancer agency concluded that glyphosate was probably carcinogenic to humans. Bayer argues otherwise, saying decades of studies have shown its product to be safe.
The European Commission will decide whether or not to renew the authorization of glyphosate based on the findings of EFSA as well as another report by a group made up of four EU countries. The Twenty-Seven will then vote on the Commission’s proposal. (Report Philip Blenkinsop, French version Nathan Vifflin, edited by Tangi Salaün)
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