Paving Way for Glyphosate Recall, EU Punts on Relicensing Weed Killer

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If no decision is made by June 30, products containing glyphosate like Monsanto's Roundup will have to be pulled from European shelves.

by Deirdre Fulton,

In yet another setback for Monsanto and other agri-chemical companies, EU member states on Monday refused to back a limited extension of the herbicide glyphosate's use, prolonging a continent-wide stalemate over the controversial weed killer.

Reuters reports:

The EU executive - after failing to win support in two meetings earlier this year for a proposal to renew the license for glyphosate for up to 15 years - had offered a 12 to 18 month extension to allow time for further scientific study.

It hopes a study by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will allay health concerns, as citizen and environmental groups pile pressure on governments to take a precautionary approach.

The compromise proposal failed to win the qualified majority needed for adoption, an EU official said, adding the European Commission will discuss the issue at a meeting on Tuesday.

The Financial Times reported the news under the headline, "Brussels Threatens to Eradicate Weed Killer Sold by Monsanto."

Indeed, Deutsche Welle noted: "If no decision is taken on the license's renewal by June 30, products containing glyphosate like Monsanto's Roundup and other weed killers will have to be pulled from European shelves."


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