MEPs push to halt relicensing of glyphosate weedkiller

EU experts meet this week to consider the relicensing of contested weedkiller glyphosate, as MEPs push to ban it.

There are not yet enough EU countries in favour of renewing glyphosate for 10 years — the proposal made by the European Commission last year — to see the vote through.

France has come out against the herbicide, while Germany and Italy are hamstrung by recent or upcoming elections.

The failure to come to an agreement could see glyphosate-based herbicides such as Monsanto’s RoundUp taken off the shelves from next year.

EU farmers’ organisation Copa and Cogeca is calling for a 15-year renewal of the chemical’s EU licence, saying food supplies could be in danger as there are no environmentally friendly alternatives to the substance.

Environment MEPs last week backed a full ban on glyphosate-based herbicides by December 2020 and immediate restrictions on private use. A full parliamentary vote will take place this week, though it will not be binding on the EU.