About: glyphosate ban
No ‘magical’ alternative to glyphosate in the next 5 years, Bayer official says
In the next five years, no alternative to glyphosate is going to “magically” appear in the market, Dr Bob Reiter, a high-ranking official from Bayer, told EURACTIV.com, referring to the controversial herbicide that has been the subject of heated debates across Europe.
Farmers hope EU Commission will block Austria’s glyphosate ban
Austrian farmers hope that the European Commission will not approve a ban on weedkiller glyphosate, recently pushed forward by the government in Vienna.
EU court prioritises transparency over ‘secrecy’ in landmark glyphosate ruling
An EU court ruled on 7 March that the EU Food Safety Authority (EFSA) should publicise studies about Monsanto’s glyphosate, the world’s most commonly used weedkiller, which has sparked intense controversy in Europe.
Greens save glyphosate from EU ban calls, as deal with EPP triumphs
The Greens in the European Parliament have blocked an amendment calling for the ban of Monsanto's controversial weedkiller, as part of a broader political deal with the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) to back a report calling for a rethink of the EU's pesticide approval system.
France takes Roundup weed-killer off market after court ruling
French authorities on Tuesday (15 January) banned the sale of a form of controversial weed-killer Roundup following a court ruling that regulators failed to take safety concerns into account when clearing the widely used herbicide.
German MEP: Politicians should trust EFSA, set aside their personal views
EU politicians should show trust in the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and put their personal opinions on food safety assessments on hold, centre-right MEP Peter Jahr told EURACTIV Germany in an interview.
French minister: A glyphosate ban now would put some farmers out of business
France’s Agriculture Minister Didier Guillaume has come out in defence of the decision to postpone the ban of glyphosate until 2020, saying that a number of farmers would be unable to carry on if the governemnt had already enforced the ban.
Bayer boss: Digital farming-sustainable production link ‘not yet clear’ to policymakers
The connection between digital farming and sustainable production is not yet clear in the minds of many policymakers, Bayer’s Bruno Tremblay told EURACTIV.com in an interview, adding that some farmers look at this kind of innovation as a way to control them.
Further setback to banning glyphosate in France
At a vote on the agriculture and food law, French MPs again refused to enter the banning of glyphosate within the next three years into legislation. EURACTIV France reports.
Brazilian court overturns injunction prohibiting use of glyphosate
Brazilian farmers will continue to have access to the world’s most used weed killer after Brazil’s Federal judge reversed a previous ruling, which had suspended the existing and new registration of glyphosate-based products.
Phasing out pesticides is the chance for Europe to heal its environment and economy
The recent re-authorisation of glyphosate controversy highlighted the many issues surrounding pesticides, their purpose and our dependency on them, as well as the harm they bring to our health and the environment, writes Natacha Cingotti.
Farmers hail new transparency rules in food safety, still want science-based decisions
EU farmers have welcomed the European Commission’s new rules on transparency in food safety assessments. However, it is still uncertain to which extent this will ensure that future decisions will actually be based on science.
Commission efforts to build trust in food safety receives mixed reviews
The European Commission presented on 11 April a proposal aiming to restore public trust in scientific studies on food safety, suggesting more transparency in decision-making and greater involvement of member states’ experts.
Brussels government takes Commission to EU court over glyphosate
The government of the Brussels region has decided to file a complaint against the European Commission with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over its decision to re-authorise glyphosate, the most widely used pesticide in the world.
Greece authorises Monsanto’s Roundup for five years
The Greek ministry of agriculture officially approved on Tuesday (6 March) the re-authorisation of the world's most commonly used weedkiller, Monsanto’s Roundup, which contains controversial chemical substance glyphosate.
France to exempt farmers from glyphosate ban when no alternative
France will exempt farmers from a ban on using the weed-killer glyphosate in three years time where there is no credible alternative to the most widely used pesticide in the world, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday (25 January).
Six member states call for glyphosate alternatives, exit plan
Six member states that opposed the re-authorisation glyphosate, the world's most commonly used weedkiller, sent a letter to the European Commission asking it to conduct a study as well as look into alternatives to the controversial substance.
Merkel ‘angry’ with agriculture minister who voted in favour of glyphosate
German Chancellor Angela Merkel rapped her agriculture minister on Tuesday (28 November) for violating the government line in approving a controversial weedkiller at a key EU meeting, sparking a political storm and angering European allies.
Glyphosate or nuclear: What to do beyond scaring
France should show political courage, embrace another vision and stop opposing the renewal of glyphosate’s authorisation in the EU, argues Cécile Philippe.
MEPs divided on the citizens’ initiative to ban glyphosate
More than a million European citizens have signed a petition to ban glyphosate, a pesticide classed as a probable carcinogen. In the face of European concerns, MEPs are divided. EURACTIV France reports.
WHO agency isolated in glyphosate fight
The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is standing firmly by its opinion that glyphosate, the world’s most commonly used weedkiller, is probably carcinogenic to humans despite a new large-scale study suggesting the opposite.
Market disruption fears grow as glyphosate ban looms
The Standing Committee on Plant Animal Food and Feed met today (9 November) to discuss renewing the approval of the active substance glyphosate, which is produced by Monsanto and others, but no qualified majority among member states was reached again.
European farmers say glyphosate deadlock shows mistrust in EU bodies
EU farmers’ union Copa-Cogeca has rejected the Commission’s revised proposal for a five year re-authorisation of glyphosate, claiming that such a proposal would “undermine” credibility in the EU institutions. Instead, they suggest a full 15-year re-approval.