East Midlands Conservative MEP Rupert Matthews has today warned of damage to farming in the region after the European Commission failed to extend the license for the weed killer glyphosate.
The Commission's Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed backtracked from its original proposal to extend glyphosate's licence for a further decade, and even failed to agree proposals for seven and five-year reauthorisations. A final decision has now been postponed until November, just a month before the weed killer's current licence expires.
The move follows pressure from countries including France and Italy and a recommendation yesterday by the European Parliament that glyphosate should be phased out in five years and banned immediately from domestic use. Glyphosate is sold under the brand name Roundup® in the UK.
Mr Matthews stated that the move would be a huge blow to farmers in the East Midlands.
He said: "The Commission has made a completely political move, ignoring the scientific research.
"Farmers in the East Midlands cannot plan for the future without long term assurances about the availability of substances they rely on, such as glyphosate. There are no readymade biological alternatives and none are expected to be commercially viable in the near future."
Glyphosate is the world's most widely used weed killer and is subject to strict regulation. A report by ADAS, the UK's largest agricultural consultancy, estimates that a ban would reduce UK production of winter wheat and winter barley by 12% and oilseed rape by 10%, costing the industry €633m a year. Its use eliminates the need for ploughing machines, reducing soil erosion.
The RSPB cites glyphosate as key to controlling bracken and rushes, while the chemical is widely used to control weeds on runways and railway lines and by gardeners.
The weed killer has been pronounced safe by organisations including the European Food Safety Authority, the European Chemicals Agency and the UN-World Health Organisation Meeting on Pesticide Residues. This analysis is supported by experts from 27 Member States and national authorities in non-EU countries including Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.