News

On July 11th, EU member states voted to accept certain limitations on the use of glyphosate. This followed the decision last month to extend the herbicide's licence for 18 months. These limitations include a ban of the co-formulant (POE-tallowamine) from glyphosate-based products (such as Roundup); to reinforce scrutiny of (unnecessary) pre-harvest uses of glyphosate; and to minimise the use in specific areas such as public parks and playgrounds.

The EU Commission has announced a temporary extension for the licence to use glyphosate. The extension is for just 18 months, which allows the EU to consider further analysis from their chemical testing agency (ECHA), due by the end of 2017.

An impasse between EU nations on whether to allow Monsanto's Roundup and similar weed-killers to continue to be sold means that the European Commission, rather than national politicians, will decide the issue next week.

The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee has just released a damning report on UK Soil Health. “…. some of the most productive agricultural land in the country is at risk of becoming unprofitable within a generation due to soil erosion” cites the report. “(Although) the Government says it will ensure that all soils are managed sustainably by 2030… our inquiry suggests that the Government’s actions do not match its ambition, and casts doubt on whether we are on track to achieve the 2030 goal.”