Criminal proceedings against Mathieu Blaise and Others

C-616/17
October 26, 2017
Final judgment
European Union, Luxembourg

Justice, Economic stakeholders
Public Prosecutor of Foix, Espace Emeraude
Environmental NGOs, Individual
Guillaume Tumerelle

EU court
Herbicide, Glyphosate, Roundup
Is Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market compatible with the precautionary principle?
Court of Justice of the European Union of Luxembourg, European Union
Court

October 1, 2019
Negative
An examination of the questions referred for a preliminary ruling has revealed nothing capable of affecting the validity of the EC Regulation concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market.

Following the prosecution of 21 Voluntary Reapers for damage to weedkiller cans containing glyphosate (cases 17025000001 and 1721900021), the court of Foix referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union for a preliminary ruling on 4 questions concerning the authorisation of glyphosate, and mainly compliance with the precautionary principle. On 1/10/2019, the court concludes (Criminal proceedings against Mathieu Blaise and Others) that there is nothing that affects the validity of the Regulation on the placing of plant protection products on the market, but provides essential clarifications and interpretations on the European Regulation that call into question a large number of pesticide marketing authorisations because they show that assessment procedures are not properly applied by the authorities.