Landwirtschaft: EU-Staaten gegen unbefristete Zulassung von Pestiziden

The EU member states are opposing plans by the EU Commission to grant unlimited, time-unlimited licenses for many plant protection products like glyphosate. Only low-risk substances and those with low risk are to have regular re-licensing abolished, according to the states' joint position for negotiations with the European Parliament.

Glyphosate would not be affected by this proposal, in contrast to the EU Commission's proposal. Currently, an active substance is only granted a limited license in the EU and must be re-evaluated afterward. Without successful renewal, the license expires. The Brussels authority had proposed in December that all substances, except the most dangerous ones, could be granted unlimited licenses in the future.

Renewals and targeted reassessments should then only be carried out when there are scientific reasons for it, according to the Commission's will. Longer licenses The EU states' position is stricter, yet still allows for a longer license than before. First authorizations for normal substances could be made time-limited for 15 years (a five-year extension), for other authorizations up to 25 years.

To offset this, the responsible authority should regularly check, among other things, whether there are new scientific findings that warrant a reassessment. The regulation aims to relieve authorities, simplify and speed up procedures, and strengthen European competitiveness. Irish Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon pointed to less burden for farmers and planning certainty as the goal.

At the same time, high health and environmental standards are to be maintained "to establish trust among our citizens". Ireland currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, where ministers from the 27 EU states make decisions. Before changes take effect, both the EU states and the European Parliament must agree.

The states intend to negotiate with the deputies as soon as they adopt their position and reach a provisional agreement within this year. Pesticides should be allowed to remain in stock longer The states also support the EU Commission's plan that pesticide products whose license ends should be sold and used up for three years from now - previously it was 1.5 years.

The National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina had criticized this idea with regard to health and environmental risks. "It extends avoidable exposures to substances whose risks have already been deemed unacceptable," the Leopoldina explained its assessment. The scientists also expressed concerns about the unlimited authorization of active substances.