EU nations have refused to back a limited extension of the pesticide glyphosate's use on Monday (6 June).
The EU executive - after failing to win support in two meetings earlier this year for a proposal to renew the licence for glyphosate for up to 15 years - had offered a 12 to 18 month extension to allow time for further scientific study.
It hopes a study by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will allay health concerns, as citizen and environmental groups pile pressure on governments to take a precautionary approach.
The compromise proposal failed to win the qualified majority needed for adoption, an EU official said, adding the European Commission will discuss the issue at a meeting on Tuesday.
Seven member states abstained and 20 backed the proposal, a German environment ministry spokeswoman said. Only Malta voted against, diplomats said.
In order for the commission’s proposal to pass, a qualified majority of 55% of member states – at least 16 countries – and representing 65% of the total EU population voting in favour was necessary.
Without a majority decision, the EU executive may submit its proposal to an appeal committee of political representatives of the 28 member states within a month.
If there is again no decision, the European Commission may adopt its own proposal.
Glyphosate is a major profit driver for Missouri-based Monsanto, which Germany’s Bayer AG is currently trying to take over. But it is also a key ingredient in other widely used weedkillers.
Along with the temporary extension, the commission had proposed restrictions on when and how to use glyphosate.
Among those are a ban on a common coformulant of glyphosate, known as POE-tallowamine, and recommendations to minimize its use on public playgrounds, parks and gardens, as well as directly before harvest.
Update: The Brussels office can confirm that the likely date for the Appeals Committee is the week commencing Monday June 20 2016 – just days before the official authorisation of glyphosate expires.