On 16 November, the Appeal Committee, comprised of representatives of the EU Member States, did not reach an opinion on the European Commission’s proposal to renew the approval of glyphosate in the EU for another ten years.  

Although a majority of Member States voted in favour of the Commission’s proposal, a qualified majority could not be reached. We welcome the European Commission’s statement in today’s media release that it will now extend glyphosate for 10 years. The Commission states that this decision “in line with EU legislation and in the absence of the required majority in both directions, the Commission is now obliged to take a decision before 15 December 2023, when the current authorisation period expires.  Based on comprehensive safety assessments carried out by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) together with EU Member States, the Commission will now proceed with the renewal of the authorisation of glyphosate for a period of 10 years, subject to certain new conditions and restrictions. These restrictions include a ban on pre-harvest use as a desiccant and the need for certain measures to protect non-target organisms.”  

Link: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_23_5792 

Keeping the farmers’ toolbox well equipped with effective and safe tools to control weeds is essential, not only to contribute to a more secure European food supply, but – when combined with a range of new farming solutions – also to facilitate the continuation of conservation and regenerative farming systems that allow farmers to achieve long-term invasive weed control without ploughing (no-till). This, in turn, means farmers can reduce soil erosion, improve water holding capacity and soil structure, and invigorate soil ecosystems.