Glyphosate Decision Delayed

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Glyphosate Decision Delayed: The next step for the Commission will be to table a vote at another SCoPAFF meeting at a future date, to be confirmed.  Renewal will require a qualified majority vote (QMV) in the committee.

If this is not reached, the issue could be tabled at the EU Appeals Committee. The current license for glyphosate is until the 15 December 2017.

The UK was one of 16 countries that voted in favour of renewing the licence for the sale of the glyphosate in Europe, while 10 countries voted against renewal and two abstained. It is likely the European Commission will now seek to negotiate a shorter renewal period with EU countries.

Glyphosate Decision Delayed

Bulgaria, Denmark, Czech Republic, Estonia, Ireland, Spain, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Finland and the UK voted in favour of the renewal.

That falls short of the threshold needed to reach a qualified majority. Germany and Portugal abstained while Belgium, Greece, Croatia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Austria, Slovenia and Sweden voted against the renewal.

The European Parliament made a non-binding vote for a phase out by 2022 yesterday after debating whether the herbicide is carcinogenic.

According to research by Oxford Economics, the impact of a ban on glyphosate could lead to severe economic consequences, including a £930m reduction in UK GDP and an additional cost to farmers of almost £1bn a year.

Crop Protection Association chief executive Sarah Mukherjee said: “It is disappointing that some Member States are continuing to ignore the science, risking the livelihoods of European farmers and the continued availability of safe, healthy, affordable food for consumers.

“Independent, expert regulators, around the world all agree that glyphosate is safe. These regulators are public servants who rightly take their duty to protect public health very seriously. Yet politicians are ignoring them, and are doing so for no good reason, other than a misguided, ideological opposition to modern agriculture.

“We urge Member States to grant the standard 15 year licence. Failure to do so risks significant damage to the economy, the environment and the agricultural sector.”

NFU vice president Guy Smith said: “We’re disappointed that member states failed to reach agreement on the renewal of glyphosate’s licence for ten years today, as the Commission had proposed, although we welcome the fact the UK continues to support the full reauthorisation of glyphosate. All eyes are now on the next meeting of this committee where they are likely to debate a shorter reauthorisation period

“The overwhelming weight of science and evidence shows that glyphosate is perfectly safe when used correctly. This has been the conclusion reached by regulatory bodies around the world, including the EU’s two leading regulatory bodies – the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

“The continued politicisation of this decision damages the credibility of the EU’s regulatory bodies and undermines the regulatory process. It also has huge implications for farming in the UK and across Europe.

“Glyphosate reduces the need to use other herbicides, it helps to protect soil and cut greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the need for ploughing, and it enables farmers in this country to grow crops that help produce safe, affordable, high quality British food.

“There is no reason why glyphosate should not be reauthorised for 15 years, never mind the ten years the Commission had proposed. We would urge members states to look at the science and base their decision on the evidence – which shows there is no reason not to reauthorise glyphosate.”

HTA horticulture head Raoul Curtis-Machin said a ban could impact on the UK, even post-Brexit vote: “It could matter if we are in transition for a couple of years because we will have implemented it before the official leaving date.

“It’s hard to see how it could have a significant impact after we are fully out, but it’s not at all clear what environmental regulations we are going to adopt as UK. No doubt there will be internal pressure on UK to follow suit if the EU does go ahead with a ban.”

Anthea McIntyre MEP said: “The EU’s own public health agency has said there is no evidence to link glyphosate to cancer in humans. The national agencies in 27 member states take the same view.

“We have to base decisions such as this on science and clear evidence, not scaremongering and guesswork.”

“I gather the next step will be for the Commission to hold another vote in November, but that is just weeks before glyphosate’s licence in Europe expires on December 15.

“The delay is playing fast and loose with farmers’ livelihoods and with food security. It leaves farmers staring over a cliff edge as they face losing their most effective means of eradicating weeds and protecting crops and productivity.

“If we end up with a ban because of this political paralysis it will deal a heavy blow to the countryside economy and to the cost of food – but it won’t do a thing for public health.”

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Water Made Irrigation Ready By Otterbine

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Water Made Irrigation Ready By Otterbine At The R&A’s Equipment Testing Centre: High Volume picked for ability to keep water clean and healthy at golf practice area.

Otterbine’s High Volume aerator has been installed in the golf practice area in The R&A’s Equipment Testing Centre at Kingsbarns, Scotland, to keep the water well-aerated and the build-up of algae to a minimum.

Water Made Irrigation Ready By Otterbine

“Otterbine was considered a good choice to aerate the water for irrigating the practice area, based on the good company it keeps under Reesink Turfcare distributorship. Reliable after-sales service was important and we know through our work with Reesink and its Toro products this is what we’d get. Otterbine is providing us with the high quality solution for an important client we would expect.”

And that solution is clean and healthy water. Callum Oliphant, managing director of Applied Irrigation, one of Scotland’s leading irrigation specialists, who worked with The R&A and Kimber Golf on making this product choice, says: “Irrigation is vital to keep the greens in the best condition so tests can be performed on a true playing surface and clean healthy water is essential for that. One pond feeds the entire underground irrigation tank so we knew the product we chose had to be able to shift a good quantity of water.

“Otterbine is the best on the market and the High Volume in particular is powerful with impressive oxygen transfer and pumping rates. Keeping the water clean and healthy won’t be a problem for this system.”

Otterbine is the only manufacturer to have oxygen transfer and pumping rates independently tested and published on its aeration systems with the High Volume offering the highest in the industry.

Moving an impressive 3.3lbs or 1.5kg of oxygen per horsepower hour and pumping over 900GPM or 198 m3/hr, Otterbine’s experience is obvious in the performance and results of the High Volume. Constructed from stainless steel, thermoplastics and with a rugged low speed motor, this system is built to deliver results no matter what the aquatic environment.

Rigorous state-of-the-art testing is performed at The R&A’s Equipment Testing Centre by scientists, robots and some of the most elite players on the circuit, using the small but perfectly formed practice area. The added benefit of the bubbling water sound of the High Volume is, says Callum, conducive to creating a tranquil and relaxing place to put the equipment through its paces.

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Keeping Up Standards In Amenity Management

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Keeping Up Standards In Amenity Management: Management of amenity areas in all their diversity is important and essential and impacts upon UK citizens every day.

This is especially the case in terms of weed, pest and disease management, providing a safe, healthy and sustainable environment and surfaces for sport and activity fit for purpose.

At a recent conference, Professor John Moverley, Independent Chairman of the Amenity Forum, urged all those awarding amenity management contracts and employing people to undertake such work, to ensure such operators demonstrate their professionalism and qualifications to undertake the work. One important element in terms of a contractor for example is asking whether they are one of the almost 70 organisations supporting the Amenity Forum. This in itself indicates their commitment to best practice and understanding of what is required. Another element is to seek their commitment to operating at Amenity Assured standards.

Keeping Up Standards In Amenity Management

John said ‘’We have a high degree of professionalism in our sector and very high standards but, just as if employing an electrical contractor or a builder when you would seek evidence of an assured standard, so it should be the case for amenity management. The management of amenity areas is so important to us all and, if using a professional contractor, business or individual fully committed to best practice, you can be assured of the highest quality and operator standards’’

John referred to the food assurance scheme, often known as the Red Tractor, and would wish to see a similar scheme become seen as standard practice in amenity. John continued ‘’Whilst local authorities and other such bodies are clearly under high financial pressure, appointing contractors and others committed to assured standards and best practice is both wise and provides best value and performance for all benefitting from well managed amenity areas’’

The Amenity Forum is the voluntary initiative for the sector promoting best practice and working with all involved including government to deliver safe, healthy and sustainable amenity areas. They promote an integrated approach making the best and appropriate use of all methods available, both chemical and non-chemical. The standard for those organisations who support the Forum work is set out in the Ten Golden Rules, available to view on their website, www.amenityforum.co.uk

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