On Friday, a majority consensus could not be reached within the European Union regarding the fate of glyphosate. Member States will be granted another opportunity to vote on this matter in November, and the ultimate decision will rest with the European Commission.
The Member States were given the opportunity to vote on Friday regarding the potential extension of the authorization for the controversial herbicide, glyphosate, for an additional ten years. To block such an extension, it required the support of at least fifteen EU countries, collectively representing a minimum of 65 percent of the EU’s population. This threshold was not met.
Due to the absence of a majority consensus among EU Member States for the extension, another vote is scheduled for November. In the event that an agreement is not reached during this subsequent vote, the European Commission will take on the responsibility of making the final decision, and it is in favor of the extension.
It’s important to note that an extension of permission for glyphosate does not automatically imply that it will also be permitted for use in the Netherlands in the years to come.
Glyphosate, known by many as the Roundup brand, was originally marketed by Monsanto in the 1970s but is now produced by various manufacturers. It is often associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease and cancer. However, there is currently no indisputable evidence that glyphosate definitively causes these illnesses, and further research is required. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the potential impact of glyphosate on biodiversity.