Following the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020, EU pesticide active substance approvals were copied across into the GB pesticides approvals register.
The GB regulator 鈥� HSE 鈥� is now solely responsible for all the regulatory assessment work done previously by 28 countries.
So, to allow the government and our regulator time to develop a fit for purpose GB active substance renewal process, all GB active substance approvals due to expire before December 2023 were then extended by three years.
However, three years later in 2023, we were still without a renewal process and many approvals faced expiry. As a result, over the past two years, the HSE has been legally required to extend expiry dates rather than allow them to lapse, and it has done this for around 250 active substances 鈥� extending them by up to six years.
Although the glyphosate approval shared a similar expiry date to many of these other active substance approvals, its approval was not extended while all those around it were.
Next steps
While there is a HSE list of active substances undergoing a renewal process, none have been progressed beyond an initial application stage.
The exception to this is glyphosate, where some progress on the renewal has been made this year. HSE states it is now assessing whether glyphosate continues to meet approval criteria, taking into account new scientific, technical and regulatory knowledge. This includes consideration of the EU assessment.
The GRG (Glyphosate Renewal Group) 鈥� the group of companies supporting the renewal of approval of glyphosate 鈥� has been asked to provide additional information and the HSE will make this publicly available.聽
鈥�皇家华人has always lobbied for the regulation of glyphosate to be led by the science and evidence.鈥�
NFU Deputy President David Exwood
There will be a public consultation on HSE鈥檚 draft conclusion. All this will be taken into consideration as the HSE makes its decision on a future renewal.
Science and evidence led approach
Responding to the news, NFU Deputy President David Exwood said: 鈥淏ritain鈥檚 farmers and growers use plant protection products in a targeted and responsible way. Glyphosate has long been one of those essential products to control weeds before planting and is vital due to the popularity of a regenerative, no-till or minimum till approach 鈥� farm practices shown to be good for climate change mitigation, as well as decreasing soil erosion.
鈥溁始一薶as always lobbied for the regulation of glyphosate to be led by the science and evidence. In the EU, more than 11,000 pages of independent expert review of that evidence concluded glyphosate鈥檚 safety, and it was duly re-approved in 2023. We fully expect a UK review process to also conclude its safety and renew its approval for a full 15 years which will provide growers with the certainty and confidence needed within the regulatory framework.
鈥淏ritain鈥檚 farmers and growers will continue to use glyphosate as long as it is safe and legal to do so to ensure environmental sustainability, productivity and a secure supply of high-quality affordable food.鈥�
Glyphosate renewal – timeline and numbers
Approval extension
GB approval extended by one year, until 15 December 2026.
EU Commission renews approval for 10 years
The EU Commission renews approval for 10 years, until 15 December 2033. The science supports all uses, but EU politics ends up prohibiting use as a pre-harvest desiccant.
EFSA risk assessment and peer review published
The EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 27 EU national authorities and 90 regulatory experts complete and publish the EFSA risk assessment and peer review.
It does not identify any critical areas of concern, showing glyphosate meets the criteria for safe use as a pesticide and for renewal.
Initial application for GB renewal submitted to HSE
Initial application for GB renewal submitted to HSE.
EU approval of glyphosate is extended by one year until 15 December 2023, to allow more time to complete the renewal assessment.
AGG report
EU independent AGG (Assessment Group on Glyphosate), made up of regulatory experts from four different countries, submits a draft application assessment report, which is around 11,000 pages long 鈥� more than twice the length of a typical report.
The AGG concludes glyphosate meets the criteria for safe use as a pesticide.
Brexit transition period ends
Brexit transition period ends and Great Britain extends its expiry date for glyphosate by three years, until 15 December 2025.
EU glyphosate renewal application is submitted
The EU glyphosate renewal application is submitted 鈥� the dossier is around 180,000 pages long 鈥� between two and four times more information than the typical renewal dossier.
EU approval due to expire
EU approval due to expire. Renewed for five years, until 15 December 2022.