Glyphosate
Dear Secretariat General of the European Commission,
Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting documents which contain the information regarding the Global Glyphosate Study undertaken by the Ramazzini Institute and several other research institutes including King’s College London and the University of Copenhagen.
1. A list of all meetings/ discussions since 1 September 2024 between officials and/or Commissioners with businesses and trade associations, as well as any consultancies, think tanks or law firms working for those actors where the Global Glyphosate Study was discussed. Key word: "Global Glyphosate Study".
2. Any records, minutes, preparatory briefings, or other notes of these meetings/discussions, including correspondence which set-up, or was follow-up to, these meetings. I would also like to receive full notes of any meetings held, and not just the summary notes proactively published by the Commission.
3. All correspondence since 1 September 2024, where the Global Glyphosate Study was discussed or mentioned, exchanged between officials and or Commissioners with businesses and trade associations (including the Glyphosate Renewal Group), as well as any consultants/consultancies, scientists, think tanks or law firms working for those actors.
Documents that cannot be sent in electronic format should be sent to Corporate Europe Observatory, Rue d’Edimbourg 26, 1050 Brussels – to the attention of Nina Holland. Should you transmit documents to us by regular post, I kindly ask you to announce that in advance in this regard.
I would like to make clear I prefer you produce the documents on a rolling basis.
Should my request be denied wholly or partially, please explain the denial or all deletions referring to specific exemptions in the regulation. Also, I expect the partial release of documents, in case of partial exemption according to article 4.6.
Looking forward to your swift reply, and thank you for your assistance.
Yours faithfully,
Nina Holland
Corporate Europe Observatory
Rue d’Edimbourg 26
1050 Brussels, Belgium
Dear Sir or Madam,
We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your request for access to documents
sent on 29/09/2025 and registered on 29/09/2025 under the case number
2025/4940.
We will handle your request within 15 working days as of the date of
registration. The time-limit expires on 20/10/2025. We will let you know
if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working days.
To find more information on how we process your personal data, please see
[1]the privacy statement.
Yours faithfully,
Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission
References
Visible links
1. https://ec.europa.eu/info/principles-and...
Dear Mrs Holland,
We are writing concerning your request for access to Commission documents
registered on 29 September 2025 under case number EASE 2025/4940.
We are currently working on your request. However, we have not yet been
able to gather all the elements necessary to carry out a full analysis of
your request.
We will not be able to send you the reply within the prescribed time limit
expiring on 20 October 2025.
An extended deadline is required since part of the requested documentation
comes from third parties that need to be consulted, and further time is
needed to complete the internal consultations and detailed analysis.
Therefore, in line with Article 7(3) of [1]Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001,
we need to extend this time limit by 15 additional working days. The new
time limit expires on 10 November 2025.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Kind regards,
SANTE E4
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL For Health and Food Safety
Food safety, Sustainability and Innovation
Pesticides and Biocides
Please note that the personal data provided in your correspondence is
processed in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018. For more information
please consult the following website:
[2]https://ec.europa.eu/dpo-register/detail....
The views expressed in this e-mail are purely those of the writer and may
not in any circumstances be regarded as stating an official position of
the European Commission. It is intended solely for the person to whom it
is addressed and may contain confidential information. If you have
received this message in error, please notify me as soon as possible.
References
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1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2001/1...
2. https://ec.europa.eu/dpo-register/detail...
Dear [email address],
Thank you for this notification. I am looking forward to your reply.
Yours sincerely,
Nina Holland
Dear Mrs Holland,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/4940.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
DG SANTE - E4
Dear Secretariat General of the European Commission,
Please pass this on to the person who reviews confirmatory applications.
I am filing the following confirmatory application with regards to my access to documents request 'Glyphosate', registered on 29/09/2025 under the case number 2025/4940.
Firstly, I have only received a response from SANTE E4. It is not clear to me whether this is the only department or unit in the EC that holds any document covered by my request.
Secondly, I do not agree with the refusal by SANTE E4 to release documents 2 and 3, and with the redaction of the full input given by the ECF in document 1. I request this decision to be reconsidered.
In SANTE's letter, regarding the redaction of document 1, and the refusal to release document 2 and 3, it is written:
"A complete disclosure of document No 1 and disclosure of documents No 2 and 3 is also prevented by the exception concerning the protection of commercial interests as laid down in the Article 4(2), first indent of Regulation (EC) 1049/2001".
However, my request related to "the Global Glyphosate Study undertaken by the Ramazzini Institute and several other research institutes including King’s College London and the University of Copenhagen". I do not see how releasing what the ECF or Bayer have to say about this study would classify under business confidentiality, as it's not their study.
In this letter it is also written: "In your application, you did not submit any grounds concerning a public interest on the basis of which the interests protected in Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 would have to be overridden, and we could not identify any such ground either."
Again, I disagree. It is evidently of strong public interest what business actors have to say to the European Commission about this independent study into the health impacts of glyphosate, the most used herbicide in the world. The issue of MRL on coffee clearly is of high public interest in itself, having a direct impact on human health.
Therefore I kindly request the European Commission to reconsider this decision.
Yours faithfully,
Nina Holland
Your message has been received by the Transparency Unit of the
Secretariat-General of the European Commission.
Requests for public access to documents are treated on the basis of
[1]Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to
European Parliament, Council and Commission documents.
The Secretariat-General will reply to your request within 15 working days
upon registration of your request and will duly inform you of the
registration of the request (or of any additional information to be
provided in view of its registration and/or treatment).
L’unité «Transparence» du secrétariat général de la Commission européenne
a bien reçu votre message.
Les demandes d’accès du public aux documents sont traitées sur la base du
[2]règlement (CE) n° 1049/2001 du 30 mai 2001 relatif à l’accès du public
aux documents du Parlement européen, du Conseil et de la Commission.
Le secrétariat général répondra à votre demande dans un délai de 15 jours
ouvrables à compter de la date d’enregistrement de votre demande, et vous
informera de cet enregistrement (ou vous indiquera toute information
supplémentaire à fournir en vue de l'enregistrement et/ou du traitement de
votre demande).
Ihre Nachricht ist beim Referat „Transparenz“ des Generalsekretariats der
Europäischen Kommission eingegangen.
Anträge auf Zugang zu Dokumenten werden auf der Grundlage der
[3]Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1049/2001 vom 30. Mai 2001 über den Zugang der
Öffentlichkeit zu Dokumenten des Europäischen Parlaments, des Rates und
der Kommission behandelt.
Das Generalsekretariat beantwortet Ihre Anfrage innerhalb von
15 Arbeitstagen nach deren Registrierung und wird Sie über die
Registrierung Ihres Antrags (oder die Notwendigkeit weiterer Informationen
im Hinblick auf dessen Registrierung und/oder Bearbeitung) unterrichten.
References
Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
2. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
3. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
Dear Sir or Madam,
We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2025/4940, sent on 05/11/2025 and registered on 05/11/2025.
We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 26/11/2025. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.
Yours faithfully,
Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission
Dear Ms Holland,
We are writing concerning your confirmatory request for access to
Commission documents for case 2025/4940 registered on 5/11/2025.
We are currently working on your confirmatory request. However, we have
not yet been able to gather all the elements necessary to carry out a full
analysis of your request. We will not be able to send you the reply within
the prescribed time limit expiring on 26/11/2025.
Therefore, in line with Article 8(2) of [1]Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 we
need to extend this time limit by 15 additional working days. The new time
limit expires on 17/12/2025.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Kind regards,
SG.A2 - Access to documents team
References
Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
Dear Secretariat General of the European Commission,
The deadline for answering my confirmatory application was one month ago, 17 December 2025.
I hope to receive an answer very soon. Could you please update me on the status of it?
Yours faithfully,
Nina Holland
Your message has been received by the Transparency Unit of the
Secretariat-General of the European Commission.
Requests for public access to documents are treated on the basis of
[1]Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to
European Parliament, Council and Commission documents.
The Secretariat-General will reply to your request within 15 working days
upon registration of your request and will duly inform you of the
registration of the request (or of any additional information to be
provided in view of its registration and/or treatment).
L’unité «Transparence» du secrétariat général de la Commission européenne
a bien reçu votre message.
Les demandes d’accès du public aux documents sont traitées sur la base du
[2]règlement (CE) n° 1049/2001 du 30 mai 2001 relatif à l’accès du public
aux documents du Parlement européen, du Conseil et de la Commission.
Le secrétariat général répondra à votre demande dans un délai de 15 jours
ouvrables à compter de la date d’enregistrement de votre demande, et vous
informera de cet enregistrement (ou vous indiquera toute information
supplémentaire à fournir en vue de l'enregistrement et/ou du traitement de
votre demande).
Ihre Nachricht ist beim Referat „Transparenz“ des Generalsekretariats der
Europäischen Kommission eingegangen.
Anträge auf Zugang zu Dokumenten werden auf der Grundlage der
[3]Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1049/2001 vom 30. Mai 2001 über den Zugang der
Öffentlichkeit zu Dokumenten des Europäischen Parlaments, des Rates und
der Kommission behandelt.
Das Generalsekretariat beantwortet Ihre Anfrage innerhalb von
15 Arbeitstagen nach deren Registrierung und wird Sie über die
Registrierung Ihres Antrags (oder die Notwendigkeit weiterer Informationen
im Hinblick auf dessen Registrierung und/oder Bearbeitung) unterrichten.
References
Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
2. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
3. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
Dear Ms Holland,
We would like to sincerely apologise for the delay in replying to your confirmatory application.
The answers to confirmatory applications are formal Commission decisions. The internal decision-making process involves the consultation of several services, including of the Legal Service, after which a decision may be formally adopted within the Secretariat-General.
Unfortunately, the only information that we can provide you at this stage is to confirm that the analysis of your confirmatory application and the necessary internal consultations are still ongoing at present. Your application requires an in-depth investigation as well as continued consultation between several Commission services.
However, please be assured that the examination of your request is ongoing and that you will receive a reply from the Commission as soon as possible.
Finally, we would like to apologise again for the delay in providing you the final reply to your confirmatory application and for any inconvenience caused by this delay.
Yours sincerely,
SG.A2 - Access to documents team - cr
Dear Secretariat-General,
Thank you for your response. However, we are now several weeks on, and I still have not received any response. I would like to remind that the legal time-limit is 30 working days.
Could you please tell me when I can expect a reply?
Yours sincerely,
Nina Holland
Dear [email address],
I still have not received a response to my confirmatory application. It is now long overdue.
Could you inform me about its status and by when I'll receive a reply?
Yours sincerely,
Nina Holland
Dear Secretariat General.
I am inquiring again about the status of my confirmatory application. Your response is overdue by about 3 months now.
Could you please inform me about the status of my application this week?
Yours sincerely,
Nina Holland
Your message has been received by the Transparency Unit of the
Secretariat-General of the European Commission.
Requests for public access to documents are treated on the basis of
[1]Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to
European Parliament, Council and Commission documents.
The Secretariat-General will reply to your request within 15 working days
upon registration of your request and will duly inform you of the
registration of the request (or of any additional information to be
provided in view of its registration and/or treatment).
L’unité «Transparence» du secrétariat général de la Commission européenne
a bien reçu votre message.
Les demandes d’accès du public aux documents sont traitées sur la base du
[2]règlement (CE) n° 1049/2001 du 30 mai 2001 relatif à l’accès du public
aux documents du Parlement européen, du Conseil et de la Commission.
Le secrétariat général répondra à votre demande dans un délai de 15 jours
ouvrables à compter de la date d’enregistrement de votre demande, et vous
informera de cet enregistrement (ou vous indiquera toute information
supplémentaire à fournir en vue de l'enregistrement et/ou du traitement de
votre demande).
Ihre Nachricht ist beim Referat „Transparenz“ des Generalsekretariats der
Europäischen Kommission eingegangen.
Anträge auf Zugang zu Dokumenten werden auf der Grundlage der
[3]Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1049/2001 vom 30. Mai 2001 über den Zugang der
Öffentlichkeit zu Dokumenten des Europäischen Parlaments, des Rates und
der Kommission behandelt.
Das Generalsekretariat beantwortet Ihre Anfrage innerhalb von
15 Arbeitstagen nach deren Registrierung und wird Sie über die
Registrierung Ihres Antrags (oder die Notwendigkeit weiterer Informationen
im Hinblick auf dessen Registrierung und/oder Bearbeitung) unterrichten.
References
Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
2. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
3. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
Dear Secretariat General of the European Commission,
I am inquiring once more about the status of my confirmatory application. Your response is overdue by about 4 months now.
Could you please inform me about the status of my application this week?
Yours sincerely,
Nina Holland
Your message has been received by the Transparency Unit of the
Secretariat-General of the European Commission.
Requests for public access to documents are treated on the basis of
[1]Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to
European Parliament, Council and Commission documents.
The Secretariat-General will reply to your request within 15 working days
upon registration of your request and will duly inform you of the
registration of the request (or of any additional information to be
provided in view of its registration and/or treatment).
L’unité «Transparence» du secrétariat général de la Commission européenne
a bien reçu votre message.
Les demandes d’accès du public aux documents sont traitées sur la base du
[2]règlement (CE) n° 1049/2001 du 30 mai 2001 relatif à l’accès du public
aux documents du Parlement européen, du Conseil et de la Commission.
Le secrétariat général répondra à votre demande dans un délai de 15 jours
ouvrables à compter de la date d’enregistrement de votre demande, et vous
informera de cet enregistrement (ou vous indiquera toute information
supplémentaire à fournir en vue de l'enregistrement et/ou du traitement de
votre demande).
Ihre Nachricht ist beim Referat „Transparenz“ des Generalsekretariats der
Europäischen Kommission eingegangen.
Anträge auf Zugang zu Dokumenten werden auf der Grundlage der
[3]Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1049/2001 vom 30. Mai 2001 über den Zugang der
Öffentlichkeit zu Dokumenten des Europäischen Parlaments, des Rates und
der Kommission behandelt.
Das Generalsekretariat beantwortet Ihre Anfrage innerhalb von
15 Arbeitstagen nach deren Registrierung und wird Sie über die
Registrierung Ihres Antrags (oder die Notwendigkeit weiterer Informationen
im Hinblick auf dessen Registrierung und/oder Bearbeitung) unterrichten.
References
Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
2. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
3. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
Dear Secretariat General of the European Commission,
I am inquiring once more about the status of my confirmatory application. Your response is overdue by nearly 5 months now.
Could you please inform me about the status of my application this week?
Yours sincerely,
Nina Holland
Dear HOLLAND Nina,
Please find attached the electronic version of European Commission
Decision C(2026) 5333 as adopted by the European Commission on 19/07/2026
concerning the request 2025/4940.
In accordance with the Terms and Conditions of this portal, please note
that this decision is being formally notified pursuant to article 297 TFEU
through this electronic platform only.
Yours sincerely,
Access to documents team - SG.A.2