The document, in which the Commission refers to the recent summary conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on glyphosate’s safety, states that “it may be expected” that pesticide products based on the herbicide will continue to meet the safety requirements laid down in EU legislation.

The opinion could pave the way for the chemical to be approved for a standard 15-year period.

Earlier this month, EFSA published a summary of its forthcoming conclusions that the use of glyphosate in agriculture does not pose “critical areas of concern” for human, animal or environmental health. Environmental groups and green lawmakers have called the findings “shocking” and accused the food safety watchdog of pro-industry bias.

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“The Commission is acting in full transparency and has followed the usual procedure in these cases,” said a Commission spokesperson, adding that the EU executive is “fully committed to ensuring that the approval of active substances in plant protection products, such as glyphosate, is based on the most recent scientific evidence and in strict compliance with EU law.”

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