BRUSSELS – The European Union is expected to decide on Friday whether to renew the authorisation of the weedkiller glyphosate in the bloc despite sharp criticism, reported German news agency (dpa).
The committee in charge, which also includes representatives of the EU states, is to vote on a proposal by the European Commission to allow the use of the pesticide until the end of 2033.
Glyphosate – a commonly used active ingredient in weedkillers – is controversial because of its potential impact on biodiversity, while some scientists also suspect it of being carcinogenic. Major producer Bayer denies that it is harmful.
The current permission for the use of the pesticide in the EU ends on Dec 15.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the bloc’s watchdog, found that the weedkiller poses no unacceptable risk, in a study published in July.
The risks examined were not so great that further approval had to be prohibited, the study said, while noting gaps in data in several areas.
Under the draft legislation, the future use of glyphosate is to be subject to different conditions, including risk reduction measures to mitigate drift from spray application. Environmentalists worry that the chemical could impact nearby plants, such as wildflowers.
The possible authorisation renewal has been met with criticism from some politicians, environmentalists and activists.
German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir said the use of glyphosate should be phased out. Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, plans to ban glyphosate on a national level from the start of next year.
Several environmental organisations have accused glyphosate manufacturers of suppressing risk information in the EU approval process.
The Greenpeace advocacy group held protest rallies in several EU countries last month month, calling for a ban of glyphosate.- Bernama
