Motion for a reso­lution: to take glyphosate off the market by the end of 2015

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

pursuant to Rule 106(2) and (3) of the Rules of Procedure

on the draft Commission implementing regulation (EU) No 540/2011 as regards the extension of the approval periods of the active substances 2,4-D, Acibenzolar-s-methyl, Amitrole, Bentazone, Cyhalofop butyl, Diquat, Esfenvalerate, Famoxadone, Flumioxazine, Flupyrsulfuron-methyl, Glyphosate, Iprovalicarb, Isoproturon, Lambda-Cyhalothrin, Metalaxyl-M, Metsulfuron methyl, Picolinafen, Prosulfuron, Pymetrozine, Pyraflufen-ethyl, Thiabendazole, Thifensulfuron-methyl, Triasulfuron

(D040593/01)

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Rapporteur: Katerina Konecná, Anja Hazekamp

B8?0000/2015

European Parliament resolution on the draft Commission implementing regulation (EU) No 540/2011 as regards the extension of the approval periods of the active substances 2,4-D, Acibenzolar-s-methyl, Amitrole, Bentazone, Cyhalofop butyl, Diquat, Esfenvalerate, Famoxadone, Flumioxazine, Flupyrsulfuron-methyl, Glyphosate, Iprovalicarb, Isoproturon, Lambda-Cyhalothrin, Metalaxyl-M, Metsulfuron methyl, Picolinafen, Prosulfuron, Pymetrozine, Pyraflufen-ethyl, Thiabendazole, Thifensulfuron-methyl, Triasulfuron (D040593/01)

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the draft Commission implementing regulation (EU) No 540/2011 as regards the extension of the approval periods of the active substances 2,4-D, Acibenzolar-s-methyl, Amitrole, Bentazone, Cyhalofop butyl, Diquat, Esfenvalerate, Famoxadone, Flumioxazine, Flupyrsulfuron-methyl, Glyphosate, Iprovalicarb, Isoproturon, Lambda-Cyhalothrin, Metalaxyl-M, Metsulfuron methyl, Picolinafen, Prosulfuron, Pymetrozine, Pyraflufen-ethyl, Thiabendazole, Thifensulfuron-methyl, Triasulfuron (D012345/02),

– having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC[1], and in particular the first paragraph of Article 17 thereof,

– having regard to Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers[2],

– having regard to the motion for a resolution of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety,

– having regard to Rule 106(2) and (3) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the current EU-approval period of glyphosate, 2,4-D and the other active substances mentioned in the draft Commission implementing regulation will expire on 31 December 2015;

B. whereas glyphosate is the most widely sold chemical pesticide in the world, and one of the highest sellers in Europe;

C. whereas the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has concluded that there is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of glyphosate and that glyphosate is probably carcinogenic to humans;

D. whereas 2,4-D has been classified by IARC as 'possibly carcinogenic' and uncertainties regarding its potential endocrine disruption potential have been mentioned by EFSA;

E. whereas glyphosate residues and its breakdown product AMPA have been detected in ground waters and in at least 50% of the surface waters across the European Union;

F. whereas in a research conducted in 18 European countries, on average 44 per cent of all samples from volunteers living in cities, were found to contain traces of glyphosate

G. whereas an active substance of a pesticide shall only be approved if it is not or has not to be classified, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, as carcinogen;

H. whereas the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 are underpinned by the precautionary principle in order to ensure that active substances or products placed on the market do not adversely affect human or animal health or the environment;

J. whereas the purpose of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 is to ensure a high level of protection of both human and animal health and the environment;

1. Considers that the draft Commission implementing regulation fails to ensure a high level of protection of both human and animal health and the environment, and therefore is not compatible with the aim or the content of the basic instrument provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009;

2. Calls on the Commission to withdraw its draft implementing regulation and to submit a new draft to the committee;

3. Calls on the Commission not to extend the approval period for glyphosate and other pesticides mentioned in implementing regulation (EU) No 540/2011 where there is scientific uncertainty as to the risks with regard to human or animal health or the environment;

4. Calls on the Commission to allow Member States to apply the precautionary principle independently in the case of glyphosate and the other pesticides mentioned in implementing regulation (EU) No 540/2011 as long as these have not been removed from the internal market.

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, and to the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

[1] OJ L 309, 24.11.2014, p. 1.

[2] OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13.