Relicensing of Glyphosate postponed again as EU nations fail to agree

Glyphosate is an active substance widely used in herbicides
Glyphosate is an active substance widely used in herbicides

A decision on whether or not to re-approve the herbicide glyphosate for use in Europe was today postponed for the second time, following disagreement among representatives of EU governments.

A revised proposal by the European Commission to re-approve glyphosate for use in Europe for 9 more years, with almost no restrictions, failed to secure the required majority among EU governments.

The decision was due to be taken by representatives of EU governments in the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed.

The proposal by the European Commission to approve glyphosate for a further 9 years, with no restrictions on its use, would have to have been approved by a qualified majority of member states.

It is not yet clear when the next meeting of the committee will take place but the Commission is now expected to work on a new proposal together with the lead/'rapporteur' member state, Germany.

Another Europe 'is possible'

Green MEP, Molly Scott Cato, a member of the European Parliament’s Agricultural Committee, said: "The rebellion from several EU countries to the relicensing of glyphosate and a previous vote by MEPs calling on the Commission to restrict permitted uses of the toxic herbicide shows another Europe is possible – one where we are not willing to cave in to pressure from corporations.

"Sadly, the UK has been absent from the list of dissenting voices. The Tories have been cheerleaders for both agribusiness and GM crops – two sides of the same coin.

"National governments have powers to ban glyphosate if they choose to and France has already indicated it will impose a ban.

"This is not the EU forcing glyphosate down our throats; the UK government can choose whether or not to allow the use of this toxic chemical which poses risks to both human health and biodiversity."

Soil Association policy director Peter Melchett said: "Time is running out for glyphosate – its licence for use in the EU expires at the end of June.

"The views of not only the EU Parliament but also one of the largest farming countries in the EU – France, which has independently decided to ban glyphosate – supported by Sweden and others - have signalled a firm position in favour of a precautionary approach.

"Even Germany, whose scientists carried out the study for the EU that cleared glyphosate, is not voting in favour of continued use.

"The European Commission’s decision to postpone the vote on glyphosate means it is surely only a matter of time before glyphosate is banned.

Farming unions criticise 'unnecessary delay' on glyphosate

Four farming unions are fully behind the European Commission’s initial proposal for a full renewal of glyphosate and welcome the UK Government’s positive stance on renewal.

NFU Vice President Guy Smith said: "Like most farmers who use glyphosate regularly, I am nothing short of exasperated as to why this key herbicide cannot simply and quickly be given the reauthorisation that has been recommended by EFSA - the appropriate EU scientific body.

"Some member states in the committee are prevaricating and wasting time when they could be taking decisions based on scientific evidence.

"Glyphosate is a pesticide which allows farmers to combat weeds while supporting cultivation methods that can preserve good soil structure.

"There is no sense behind this delay and we look to Member States to support an evidence-based, full re-approval at the earliest possible opportunity."

NFU Scotland President Allan Bowie said: "This is a chance for the European Union to show a commitment to evidence led policy-making; the European Food Safety Authority – along with the UN Food and Agriculture organisation – have confirmed that glyphosate is safe.

"Scottish farmers need to know that decisions are being made on sound evidence not held up by political tactics."

NFU Cymru President Stephen James added: "The list of those confirming that glyphosate is safe for use is getting longer by the day.

"Even the RSPB advocates the use of glyphosate to control bracken in the uplands in Wales and only last month the European Parliament confirmed it should be re-authorised.

"Farmers and the environment need glyphosate and it is imperative we waste no more time in re-approving it."

Ulster Farmers Union President Barclay Bell also commented: "Glyphosate is Europe’s most commonly used herbicide and it is important that it remains as widely available to the industry as it is now.

"I cannot understand the logic behind delaying a decision on a product which is proven to be safe and beneficial.

"Farmers in Northern Ireland will take a dim view of this decision to delay and I urge all parties to reach an agreement immediately."

'Probably does not cause cancer'

However, recent studies have come to the conclusion that glyphosate "probably does not cause cancer", according to a new safety review by United Nations health, agriculture and food experts.

In a statement likely to intensify a row over its potential health impact, experts from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) said glyphosate is "unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk to humans" exposed to it through food.

Having reviewed the scientific evidence, the joint WHO/FAO committee also said glyphosate is unlikely to be genotoxic in humans.

In other words, it is not likely to have a destructive effect on cells' genetic material.

The conclusion contradicts a finding by the WHO's Lyon-based International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which in March 2015 said glyphosate is "probably" able to cause cancer in humans and classified it as a so-called Group 2A carcinogen.

Seven months after the IARC review, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), an independent agency funded by the European Union, published a different assessment, saying glyphosate is "unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans".

The differing findings thrust glyphosate into the centre of a row involving EU and U.S. politicians and regulators, the IARC experts, environmental and agricultural specialists and the WHO.

What is glyphosate?

Glyphosate is an active substance widely used in herbicides.

Patented in the early 1970s, it was introduced to the consumer market in 1974 as a broad-spectrum herbicide and quickly became a best seller.

Since its patent expired in 2000, glyphosate has been marketed by various companies and several hundred plant protection products containing glyphosate are currently registered in Europe for use on crops.