09/10/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 6 October, the European Commission officially approved the citizens' initiative (ECI) 'Stop glyphosate', which has gathered more than 1 million signatures from 22 member states. As well as a ban on glyphosate, the petition calls for a reform of the approvals procedure for this herbicide and compulsory targets for a reduction in the use of herbicides. In the next three months, the Commission will invite the organisers of the citizens' initiative to present their opinions and a public hearing will be held at the European Parliament for their positions to be put forward. The Commission will subsequently decide whether there are grounds to present a legislative initiative, to take alternative action to achieve the goals of the ECI or to take no action at all. (MB)