Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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605. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to implement a ban on glyphosate use as has been done in other countries due to increasing research that it is probably carcinogenic to humans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35277/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Pesticide active substances, such as glyphosate, contained in plant protection products are approved, or not, centrally at EU level, based on a rigorous scientific peer review process managed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Products containing EU-approved active substances are subsequently authorised, or not, nationally, in accordance with evaluation and decision-making criteria agreed at EU level and taking account of local agri-environmental conditions. Products are only authorised if it can be reliably concluded that the intended uses have no unacceptable impacts on human and animal health and the environment.

A decision to renew the EU approval of glyphosate for a period of ten years was adopted by the European Commission in November 2023. This decision was based on comprehensive scientific assessments completed by EFSA and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which were the most detailed evaluation of a pesticide substance ever performed in the EU. ECHA reported that the available scientific evidence did not meet the criteria to classify glyphosate as a carcinogenic substance and no critical areas of concern were identified by EFSA covering the potential for impacts on the health of humans, animals and the environment.

Glyphosate continues to be intensively studied worldwide and new studies are published on a regular basis. The Commission has stated repeatedly that if relevant new information emerges, based on robust research, it will mandate EFSA and ECHA to review that information and that it would take appropriate action promptly if warranted by EFSA and ECHA’s scientific conclusions.

My Department’s approach to the regulation of glyphosate and all pesticides is based on validated scientific evidence and is guided by the scientific opinions and conclusions of EFSA and ECHA. Protection of human health is always the foremost concern for the Department.