Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect glyphosate on human health.

All active substances used in plant protection products are subject to regular European Union (EU) wide review to ensure that they meet modern safety standards. Glyphosate is currently approved for use as a herbicide in the EU. Approval was granted in January 2002, based on a review of comprehensive health and environmental data, and expires on 31 December 2015. As part of the procedure for renewing the approval, the European Food Safety Authority is co-ordinating a detailed review of further health and environmental data with member States. The UK is participating in that review.

Plant protection products must be authorised before they may be placed on the market or used in the UK. Authorisation is granted only if data show that they pose no unacceptable risks to humans or the environment. Existing authorisations for products containing glyphosate will be reviewed after the decision on renewal of the approval has been taken.