A bit of background

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviews the science on pesticides and herbicides.  While conducting their latest review, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)—which independently gathers health data for the World Health Organization- declared in their paper’s conclusion “Glyphosate is probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A)."  and also stated “There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of glyphosate.”

This evidence has made it difficult for the European Commission to come to a decision whether to extend the licence of Glyphosate.  If the licence was not extended, the chemical would have to be phased out over six months.

Eventually, after months of indecision and despite failing three times in a row to secure a majority decision from the European Union's member states, the licence was extended on June 28th, but only for 18 months.  This is significant as it would normally be extended for 15 years.

The EU has also given a series of recommendations in parallel with the extension, which include;

1) ban a co-formulant called POE-tallowamine from glyphosate based products;

2) minimise the use of the substance in public parks, public playgrounds and gardens

3) minimise the pre-harvest use of glyphosate; 

The reaction so far

To date it is unclear if the UK government is prepared to accept these recommendations, but some councils in the UK are already looking to stop using glyphosate in weed control and are investigating other chemical free methods, such councils include; Brighton, Bristol, Glastonbury, Erewash, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.  This action has mainly been taken “after being contacted by concerned constituents following the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) March 2015 report finding that glyphosate was "probably carcinogenic".” 

Several European countries, including Holland, Denmark and Sweden, have banned or restricted the use of glyphosate herbicides by local authorities, because of alleged links with a variety of health problems - not just cancer - ranging from birth defects and kidney failure to celiac disease, colitis and autism. 

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in many weedkillers, but the extent of the impact is not only down to this one chemical. Dr Robin Mesnage of Kings College London, writes "We know Roundup, the commercial name of glyphosate-based herbicides, contains many other chemicals, which when mixed together are 1,000 times more toxic than glyphosate on its own." 

What next?

On the 1st of August a new EU regulation “(EU) 2016/1313” came into force, which specifically highlighted POE-tallowamine as one of these toxic chemicals and banned its use as a co-formulant in the same product as glyphosate; “Member States shall ensure that plant protection products containing glyphosate do not contain the co-formulant POE-tallowamine (CAS No 61791-26-2)’.”  

The new regulation also states that “Member States should ensure that the use of plant protection products containing glyphosate is minimised or prohibited in areas such as public parks and gardens, sports and recreation grounds, school grounds and children's playgrounds and in the close vicinity of healthcare facilities.” 

Councils will be expected to act upon this legislation across the UK, and across all member states of the EU as “This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.”

The future of glyphosate is uncertain; what is certain is that councils will have to look at alternative ways of removing weeds in areas where use of glyphosate is restricted.

Kersten UK provide many products for chemical free weed control.  For more information contact us at; info@kerstenuk.com or visit; www.kerstenuk.com