Glyphosate is never far from the headlines, and at the forthcoming Amenity Forum Conference to be held at the Pirelli Stadium, Burton on Trent, on October 12, Monsanto’s Technical Development Manager Barrie Hunt will speak on the subject of ‘Glyphosate, past, present and future’.
“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,” explains Mr Hunt.
“I will
look at the history of the product, the contribution it makes to amenity
management today and outline its development and where we are heading with the
re-registration process.”
Following
an 18-month extension of the current licence for Glyphosate in July 2016, the
active ingredient comes back under the spotlight this autumn as manufacturers
seek re-approval.
In March
2017 a report by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) found that glyphosate
should not be classified as carcinogenic, thus supporting the 2015 conclusions
of the European Food Standards Agency (EFSA). In fact, following an in depth
review of new and existing data, ECHA’s classification remained unchanged from
its previous assessment several years ago.
The
European Commission has submitted a Draft Review Report and Regulation for
approval on which the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
(SCoPAFF) will vote before the end of December.
Certain conditions were placed on the use of glyphosate ahead of the
2016 extension of approval, including prohibiting co-formulation with POE-tallowamine, (also referred to as POE-t or ETA), and a
requirement to keep pesticide use as low as reasonably practical in specified
areas are retained in the new regulation.
Mr Hunt
comments: “At Monsanto we continue to work closely with amenity professionals
such as members of the Amenity Forum to encourage best practice which includes
techniques to carefully target glyphosate use to where it is most effective and
appropriate.”
“I look
forward to the Amenity Forum conference as an opportunity to meet with
contractors and operators who are at the top of their profession and with their
help, ensure that we can keep this important active ingredient available for
use in the future.”
