PAN Europe and its partners have submitted a Request for Internal Review to the European Commission over its re-authorization of glyphosate. "This is the required first step of a legal challenge. It follows the recent 10-year re-approval of glyphosate despite significant concern among Member States and scientists. Important risks have been overlooked or not been taken seriously enough and are now critical arguments in the legal challenge", the organization shares.
PAN Europe, ClientEarth (EU), Générations Futures (France), GLOBAL 2000 (Austria), PAN Germany, and PAN Netherlands submitted their case on 24 January. In the review request, the NGOs point to studies that the organizations' claim have been overlooked during the approval process. "These show elevated cancer risk, an alarming mortality rate among insects, and major impacts on brain and gene function stemming from the use of glyphosate."
The European Commission now has 22 weeks, until the end of June, to formally answer to the Request. If the Commission does not revoke its authorization for glyphosate, the NGOs will proceed with court action.