The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced the extension of glyphosate’s authorisation in Great Britain until 15 December 2026.
The move comes after the Glyphosate Renewal Group (GRG) – which represents manufacturers – and which is supporting the renewal of approval of glyphosate in GB with an admissible application submitted its supporting dossier and was asked for additional information.
HSE explained that, ‘Where, for reasons beyond the control of the applicant, it appears that an approval is likely to expire before a decision can be taken on renewal, as the competent authority, we must extend the approval period by a further period sufficient to examine the application. Therefore, to allow for a renewal assessment to be completed, we have extended the approval of glyphosate until 15 December 2026.’
It continued, ‘We will now assess whether glyphosate continues to meet the legislative approval criteria for an active substance. This will take account of any new scientific, technical and regulatory knowledge. This will include anything that has changed or been updated since the approval decision. It will also include a critical consideration of the recent European Union (EU) assessment which supported their decision to renew the approval of glyphosate. We have requested the GRG to provide additional information to support their application. We will make this additional information publicly available.’
The extension comes as sampling suggests that practices such as the increased use of cover crops, may be increasing glyphosate use and the development of resistance, after the confirmation of glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass in the UK highlighted the need for careful stewardship to prevent further resistance issues.
John Cussans, a scientist at ADAS, commented, “We have come across several high-risk cases before where we could rule out resistance following resampling and retesting. However, this is the first time we can confirm, after rigorous testing and multiple samples taken, that glyphosate resistance is present in a UK Italian ryegrass population.”
Under the terms of the Windsor Framework, EU plant protection regulations continue to apply directly in Northern Ireland, so the EU’s recent decision to renew glyphosate therefore permits authorised products to be sold and used in Northern Ireland.
