Only a few days before member states are scheduled to vote, on 25 October, on the proposal to renew the glyphosate licence for ten more years, French MEP Éric Andrieu (S&D) called on the Commission on Tuesday 17 October to reconsider.
Accusing the Commission of being “irresponsible” in refusing to deviate from its proposal to authorise a pesticide recognised as a probable carcinogen by the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer for such a long period, Andrieu predicts agreement will be impossible on 25 October. Thus, he calls on the Commission to amend its position and propose yearly renewal for this total herbicide, the world’s most used, and its complete ban within three years at most.
“Germany, which is preparing for coalition government, will abstain. With France, Austria and Italy voting against the ten years, there will be no qualified majority and, so, no agreement!” The European Commission has given warning through Health and Food Safety Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis that, with no qualified majority, it will not take the decision on its own to extend authorisation. “It’s completely irresponsible! Farmers can’t be asked to choose between bankruptcy and cancer!” Andrieu railed.
The environment committee could vote on Thursday 19 October to veto the Commission proposal before the European Parliament puts the matter to the vote in Strasbourg on Tuesday 24 October. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)