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WWW.FGINSIGHT.COM FRIDAY APRIL 1 2016 £2.95 AGRICULTURE’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER
rQuestions over regulatory process
rMore products risk restrictions
By Alistair Driver
EU policy-makers have been accused of ‘disregarding the ev- idence and science’ as the future of vital crop protection products hangs in the balance. The European Parliament’s
Environment Committee voted overwhelmingly last week to re- ject European Commission pro- posals to renew the licence for glyphosate for another 15 years. Separately, the French Na-
tional Assembly recently voted to ban the use of all neonicoti- noid insecticides from Septem- ber 1, 2018. The French Government said
the ban was ‘a responsible solu- tion’, as French Agriculture Minister Stéphane Le Foll called on Brussels to ensure these re- strictions applied across the EU. Neither decision is binding.
The full EU Parliament and the European Commission will have their say on glyphosate over the next two months, with some ex- perts predicting, if Monsanto’s flagship product is approved, re- strictions could be placed on its use, such as banning it for desic- cation (application just before harvest). A vote on the French neoni-
cotinoid decision is expected in the summer. But, at a time when the UK’s
At a time when the UK’s relationship with the EU is under scrutiny, the votes have put the spotlight on EU regulatory processes. PICTURE: Gary Naylor
relationship with the EU is un- der intense scrutiny, the votes have once again put the spot- light on the EU regulatory process. The MEPs’ concern about
glyphosate stems from a report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) last year which concluded glyphosate was ‘probably car- cinogenic to humans’. But the European Food Safety
Authority (EFSA) has subse- quently concluded glyphosate was ‘unlikely to pose a carcino- genic hazard to humans’, while
other studies have endorsed its safety. Farming Minister George Eu-
stice, who is campaigning to leave the EU, cited a recent ‘compre- hensive scientific study by Ger- man authorities’ which conclud- ed glyphosate was safe to use. “So a ban is not justified by the
science,” he said. “While I am hopeful there will be a change of heart, this is the latest example of the EU disregarding evidence and science when it comes to pes- ticide authorisations.” NFU vice-president Guy Smith said glyphosate had a
‘long and well established safe- ty record’, as endorsed recently by EFSA.
Negative impact
He said: “Its loss would have a huge negative impact on the com- petitive ability of European farm- ers. At a time when the way the EU regulates is under the micro- scope, EU politicians would do well not to play fast and loose with a key part of farmers’ crop pro- duction tool box.” Crop Protection Association
chief executive Nick von West- enholz warned farmers were ‘at
a grave risk of losing more important products without good, scientific reason’. He called on policy-makers,
whatever the outcome of the EU referendum, to ‘return to sci- ence-based decision-making’. A Defra spokesman said UK
experts agreed with EFSA’s findings on glyphosate. “However, we await the deci-
sion by the European Commis- sion on the renewal of its approval,” he said.
MORE ON THIS STORY See page 2.
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