MEPs at the European Parliament have clearly voted to ban the use of glyphosate in Europe, with a total of 355 votes being cast in the Plenary Session on Tuesday. 244 MEPs voted to ban glyphosate completely in 2022 and to refuse the 10 year re-license for glyphosate, with restrictions on use from 2018. Glyphosate-based herbicides are the most used herbicides in the World.

Tomorrow EU Member States are set to vote on its reauthorisation. They have the final say in deciding whether herbicides containing glyphosate will remain on the shelves at the end of this year.

Last week Environment and Public Health Committee MEPs voted by a large majority (39 in favor, with 9 against, and 10 abstentions) for a ban on glyphosate in three years’ time, approving a non-binding resolution.

THE GLYPHOSATE BOX

Speaking before the vote, European Commission official Sabine Juelicher said that MEPs would be attacking the EU regulatory system itself and the agencies the EU relied on. The MEPs’ resolution included a call for pesticide approvals to be based on peer-reviewed studies by independent scientists instead of the current system, which is based on secret industry studies.

The resolution was agreed ahead of a vote on the reauthorisation of glyphosate in the Standing Committee on Wednesday 25 October.

MEPs hope they will influence member states to oppose the ten-year renewal being proposed by the European Commission but have no power to veto the renewal.