Glyphosate and herbicide resistant plants

There is a common understanding that commercially traded formulations of glyphosate, such as Roundup, can be more toxic than glyphosate alone. Therefore, the EU has already taken measures to remove problematic additives known as POE tallowamine from the market. However, imports of genetically engineered plants resistant to glyphosate are exposed to high dosages of the herbicide in countries where they are grown, such as Argentina, Brazil and the US. There have been 16 authorisations for the import of genetically engineered plants resistant to glyphosate issued since April 2015. However, problematic additives are still allowed in those countries where the plants are cultivated. The EU Commission has confirmed the respective gaps in risk assessment: “A significant amount of food and feed is imported into the EU from third countries. This includes food and feed produced from glyphosate-tolerant crops. Uses of glyphosate-based plant protection products in third countries are evaluated by the competent authorities in those countries against the locally prevailing regulatory framework, but not against the criteria of Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009. (...).“