It’s
the topic that won’t go away – virtually every day a new social media feed or
tabloid news story brings glyphosate back into the spotlight. Farming industry
leaders are now campaigning to secure the future of this active
ingredient.
And
in groundcare, contractors, groundsmen and local authorities are even more
exposed to public opinion as parks, open spaces and street maintenance teams are
in constant contact with the community.
Manda
Sansom, Technical Development Manager at Monsanto, manufacturer of leading
glyphosate herbicide Roundup, comments: “Glyphosate and glyphosate-based
herbicides are among the most thoroughly tested and evaluated pesticide products
in the world.
“Their
40-year history of safe use is supported by one of the most extensive worldwide
human health, crop residue and environmental databases ever compiled on any
pesticide.”
What
is happening now with glyphosate? The current licence for glyphosate was due to
expire at the end of June 2016 and because no decision on its renewal had been
taken by the European Commission’s Standing Committee the licence was extended
for a further 18 months to allow for the European Chemicals Agency, (ECHA), to
prepare its scheduled Safety Assessment. In parallel, the Commission proposed
certain restrictions for glyphosate during the 18 month extension period.
Amendments
to glyphosate authorisations require Member States to ensure that plant
protection products containing glyphosate do not contain the co-formulant
POE-tallowamine, (also referred to as POE-t or ETA).
A
transitional period for the sale and distribution of ETA-containing products up
to 30th June 2017 and for disposal, storage and use of existing stocks until
30th June 2018 is now in force. This means end users have until the end of June
2018 to legally use up all such products, but retailers must sell out by the end
of June this year.
In
addition, Member States were instructed to pay particular attention to
Groundwater in vulnerable areas, with particular respect to non-crop uses, and
risks from the use in specific areas referred to Article 12(a) of Directive
2009/128/EC (Sustainable Use Directive).
Herbicide
authorisations issued in the UK by the Chemicals Regulation Directorate have
taken these risks into account, so you can be confident that using glyphosate
products according to the label will be compliant with this EU regulation.
What
happens next? The EU approval process will start again - once the scheduled
Safety Assessment from the ECHA is issued in March - and will be completed by
31st December 2017.
Will
I still be able to buy glyphosate products during this process? Product
availability will continue throughout, with the exception that products
containing ETA will cease to be on sale from 30th June 2017.
What
can I do to help safeguard glyphosate’s future? Use up products containing ETA
by 30th June 2018 and switch to products which do not use this ingredient such
as Monsanto’s Roundup range.
Ensure
that you are demonstrating best practice when using glyphosate – following
product label recommendations and complying with SUD.
Look
at techniques such as spot spraying to restrict spray to the target plant and
discuss with clients the suitability of more frequent, targeted applications to
smaller plants which may lower overall volumes.
How
can I reassure clients or members of the public? Use social media or the local
press to your advantage to showcase responsible spraying and its benefits for
the local community, such as safer play areas, protection of their property from
invasive weeds and maintaining an attractive environment in which to live and
work.
Join
the Amenity Assured Scheme to demonstrate your commitment to best practice and
safe spraying.
Utilise
the Amenity Forum’s Get Moving campaign which highlight how proper weed control
impacts upon health and well-being, safety and the environment, featuring a
range of public information materials which can be distributed to their
customers by contractors and local authorities.
