Glyphosate cannot be classified as carcinogenic, says the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in a new recommendation for the approval of the herbicide.
The recommendation will influence the European decision on extending the approval, but a ban is not off the table yet.
Glyphosate does not cause cancer in humans, according to an opinion published by ECHA on Monday. This opinion does not differ from the earlier stance taken by ECHA in 2017, when it also did not classify glyphosate as carcinogenic.
The EU intended to make a decision on renewed approval this year, but the process has been delayed because supporters and opponents have submitted numerous new reports and their own studies. All of these must be handled carefully and with justification, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said earlier.
Due to the delay, the EU could extend the current approval by one year. The approval for glyphosate expires at the end of 2022.
The risk assessors at ECHA have determined that "the available scientific evidence did not meet the criteria to classify glyphosate for specific target organ toxicity, or as a carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic substance."
Ultimately, renewed approval depends on the vote of the EU member states. The reports and evaluations of the EU agencies serve only as tools for decision-making.
ECHA's task is to investigate the inherent hazards of a substance, not its practical consequences. That aspect is addressed by EFSA, as part of a parallel study to be conducted in July.
Health and environmental organizations have already expressed their concerns about ECHA maintaining the current glyphosate classification. According to the European Environment Agency, the shortcomings of the EU hazardous chemical classification process urgently need to be addressed.