The EU has granted a
five-year reprieve to the use of glyphosate as a weedkiller just weeks before
the deadline of the existence licence.
Following months of
wrangling, the EU countries voted to renew the licence despite environmental
concerns.
The proposal at the
EU Commission's Appeal Committee got 18 votes in favour and nine against, with
one abstention.
Professor
John Moverley, Independent Chairman of the Amenity Forum, welcomed the decision
and said: "It is an important active ingredient used in the amenity sector
and has been proved to be safe to use following extensive analysis and review.
"The
Forum always advocates an integrated approach to weed control utilising all
methods available, cultural, biological, mechanical and chemical. However
glyphosate remains in many situations the most cost effective and efficient
method ensuring safe, healthy and sustainable amenity spaces and sports
surfaces fit for purpose and keeping Britain moving."
The Commission says
the new five-year licence will be ready before the current one expires on 15
December. However, France plans to ban the use of glyphosate within three
years.
The UK was among the
states in favour of glyphosate renewal. The EU Commission says the current
proposal on the weedkiller "enjoys the broadest possible support by the
member states while ensuring a high level of protection of human health and the
environment".
CPA CEO Sarah
Mukherjee said: “Whilst we are pleased that the science has eventually
prevailed, the politicisation of what should have been a standard re-approval
process sets a worrying precedent for the future of crop protection in Europe.
“The loss of
glyphosate would have caused significant damage to the economy (and) the
environment.”
"Rigby
Taylor is delighted that the EU has renewed the licence for glyphosate,” says
Peter Corbett, the company’s Chemicals Product Manager.
“The loss
of this important active would have cost local authorities many hundreds of
millions of pounds to replace with alternative means of vegetation control.
“The
industry now needs to take on board the importance of using this active
ingredient correctly and in a sustainable manner.
“Rigby
Taylor is working on a product stewardship package for glyphosate, which will
include all the elements of best practice. The package will include advice and
recommendations for managers, operators and other end users on how to use it
correctly. There is also a need to educate the general public on its safety
profile.
“We expect
the UK authorities to re-affirm product labels in the next few months and Rigby
Taylor will include these in the stewardship package.
“A key
element to ensuring we can continue to have glyphosate as a cost-effective
management tool for vegetation management will be to use it in a programme with
other products to achieve the desired outcome. Rigby Taylor will also address
this issue in its forthcoming stewardship programme."
