Glyphosate approved for five years

It came down to 18 member states voting in favour at 65.71pc, including Ireland, the UK, Spain and the Netherlands, while nine including France and Italy, voted against, and one abstained.

The extent of the dependence on the use of the herbicide glyphosate had been well f lagged, with UCD professor Jimmy Burke warning it could cost Irish tillage farmers €30m a year in lost cereal yields plus a rise in weeds.

MEP Mairead McGuinness said she hoped this would mean more certainty for farmers who rely on glyphosate for their farm management systems.

“This vote is positive as it removes the uncertainty for farmers but it doesn’t change the political landscape which is very much divided at the moment. If pressure continues against glyphosate, new farming systems will have to be thought of for the future, as while glyphosate is in the spotlight now, the use of all pesticides will come in to question.”

IFA president Joe Healy said it was an important outcome for farmers and for science, although he wanted a longer renewal.

“The European Food Safety Agency has endorsed the use of glyphosate and has consistently said it is safe,” he said.

“Glyphosate is an integral part of the modern farming practice in both tillage and grassland production. It is a key arable crop management tool that allows farmers to produce an abundance of safe, affordable, quality food.

“Its judicious use allows us to adopt minimum tillage practices, thus preventing soil erosion and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the sector.”