Initial hearings of the class action against Monsanto Australia, seeking to specifically establish whether glyphosate is carcinogenic have now concluded. The parties are required to file written closing submissions by early November and will be heard on 29 January 2024.
EU Member states have yet to come to a decision to renew the registration of glyphosate for the next 10 years. During the meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF) held last weekend, a qualitive majority vote could not be reached.
Whilst no qualitative majority was reached, a majority of Member States voting for re-approval supports the strong science-based rationale for a full re-approval. As a next step, the European Commission will organise another Member State vote at an Appeal Committee meeting, expected to take place during the first half of November. Since the current approval of glyphosate expires on December 15, 2023, a decision will be made either by the Member States or by the European Commission before this expiration date.
Glyphosate is an important tool that farmers have used as part of adapting their farming systems to ensure their financial and environmental sustainability in the face of climate change. If a ban were to go ahead, it would indiscriminately prohibit the export of crucial crop protection products into jurisdictions where they are regulated, assessed, and approved by an independent and technically proficient authority.
The VFF, continues to be actively engaged on these in ongoing discussions with industry and committed to keeping members informed with continual updates.
The European Commission has published their statement on the vote here. The Glyphosate Renewal Group has a statement available online here.