European Parliament to vote on glyphosate phase-out resolution: A vote on a resolution within the European Parliament for glyphosate phase-out, with full ban by end 2020 will be held on 24 October.
Some MEPs want a full ban on glyphosate-based herbicides by December 2020, and immediate restrictions on the use of the herbicide.
The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), a 68-member commitee of the European Parliament, has called for the glyphosate phase-out by 2020, with 39 votes to 9 and 10 abstentions ahead of the plenary vote by EU countries on 25 October.
The draft resolution to be put to the vote on Tuesday 24 October opposes the European Commission’s proposal to renew the herbicide’s licence for 10 years, as requested by some member states, including the UK.
Instead, MEPs say the EU should draw up plans to phase out the substance, starting with a complete ban on household use and a ban on using it for farming when biological alternatives (i.e. integrated pest management systems) work well for weed control.
Glyphosate should be completely banned in the EU by 15 December 2020, with the necessary intermediate steps taken, says the draft text.
The herbicide could be given the 10-year extension, depending on how EU countries weigh up the evidence for and against Monsanto’s chemical. Its registration runs out at the end of 2017.
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