On 24 October 2017, ANSES withdrew the marketing authorisation for the only plant protection product containing glufosinate authorised in France, Basta F1, marketed by Bayer SAS, as well as the import permits for products containing it. Following a re-examination of the marketing authorisation for this product, the Agency concluded that risks to the health of users, workers and people in the vicinity of treated areas could not be ruled out.

ANSES conducted a review of the dossier submitted by Bayer SAS with a view to renewal of the marketing authorisation (MA) for the product BASTA F1, a herbicide containing glufosinate-ammonium, used as a spray on vines, orchards, vegetables and potatoes.

Taking into account all the available scientific data and the most recent risk assessment models, the Agency considered that the risks to human health associated with exposure to glufosinate, a substance classified as R1B for its presumed reprotoxicity, could not be ruled out, in particular for the health of people applying the product, workers, people likely to be in an area where this product is being or has been applied, and children living or attending an establishment in the vicinity of treated areas.

In this context, on 2 October 2017 the Agency informed Bayer SAS of the conclusions of its assessment and on 24 October 2017 it withdrew the marketing authorisation for this product. This withdrawal also concerns nine parallel trade permits enabling identical products to be introduced into France. This will result in all plant protection products containing glufosinate disappearing from the French market.

List of products concerned:

Since 1 July 2015, the date of transfer to ANSES of responsibility for issuing marketing authorisations for plant protection products, the Agency has, for health and safety reasons, withdrawn 147 marketing authorisations for products containing certain active substances: 17 products containing amitrole (November 2015), one product containing dimethoate (February 2016), 126 products combining glyphosate with the co-formulant POE-tallowamine (June 2016) and three products containing chlorpyrifos-ethyl (August 2016).

Reference Link: ANSES