Newsflash – 25th October, 11am – EU fails to renew glyphosate and delays decision until 6th November
Following today’s meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCOPAFF) it appears that we are no nearer to an answer on the future of glyphosate in the European Union.
Representatives of Member States failed to reach agreement on whether or not the controversial weed killer should have its approval renewed. The European Commission’s proposal to renew it for periods of either ten, seven or five years all failed to gain sufficient support. The Commission will now take into account the views of Member States and return in November for further discussions.
However, in what can be seen to be very encouraging news, there was more opposition to approving glyphosate than had been expected. Belgium, Greece, Croatia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Austria, Slovenia and Sweden were all opposed to renewal.
Sadly the UK was in favour of continued use of glyphosate thus following its long ignoble tradition of siding with the pesticide industry rather than voting for greater protection for the health and environment of the people of the UK.
The vote is now due to be held in just under two weeks’ time on 6th November. PAN UK will continue to work with our colleagues to put pressure on relevant decision makers to ban glyphosate in the EU once and for all.
European Parliament sends clear message – it is time to ban glyphosate
PAN UK welcomes the result of today’s (Tuesday, 24th October) vote in the European Parliament which passed a Resolution calling for restrictions on the use of the controversial weed killer glyphosate. Whilst the resolution does not call for an immediate ban it does insist on a phase out of all uses within the EU by 2022. Also included on the recommendations of the Resolution are calls for an immediate ban on all non-agricultural uses of glyphosate.
PAN UK once again applauds the European Parliament and the MEPs, including those of the UK that supported this Resolution. Whilst it is non-binding it sends a clear message that the will of the people of the EU and of their representatives in Parliament clearly see that it is time to get rid of this insidious chemical.
It is to be hoped that this Resolution, the 1.3 million signatures from EU Citizens and the clear evidence that viable alternatives are available will be reflected on Wednesday, 25th October, when the final decision on glyphosate approval is expected to be delivered by the European Commission.
Find further information:  http://www.pan-uk.org/ban-glyphosate/