AgroPages-Glyphosate Task Force opens reading room for public access to studies-Agricultural news

Shelves containing the full set of studies submitted for the glyphosate renewal. Seventy-one proprietary studies are available in the reading room.
(Photo: Glyphosate Task Force)

The Glyphosate Task Force (GTF) is facilitating public access to 71 proprietary toxicological studies submitted as part of the ongoing process of renewing European Union (EU) approval for the sale of glyphosate.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has already published detailed summaries of the studies and its assessments. Today the GTF has opened a public reading room in Brussels which will facilitate even greater access to the data submitted in the renewal procedure.

As with all active substances used in pesticides, glyphosate is subject to periodic review and evaluation by public authorities.

All studies submitted as part of the EU renewal process have been reviewed and analysed by scientific experts of EFSA and EU Member States. These experts concluded that “glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans” and that it does not demonstrate mutagenic properties or effects on fertility, reproduction or embryonal development.

It is important to note that applicants for all active substances in the EU submit a combination of both open (public) and proprietary research. All industry generated studies must comply with strict standards of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and are independently peer reviewed as part of the EU evaluation process.

The GTF will provide public access to 71 toxicological studies owned by the members of GTF. Very limited information has been redacted from the documents, in line with Article 63 of EU Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, which governs the authorisation of plant protection products.

A registration page for the reading room is now available online. The page provides details of location and opening times and the room is accessible to anyone who agrees with the terms and conditions. The reading room will be open until the end of October.