Some of Europe’s biggest trade partners fear a potential EU ban on glyphosate could hit exports of crops ranging from Australian wheat to Brazilian soybeans.
Just seven weeks before the license for the world’s most common weedkiller runs out in Europe, agricultural powerhouses, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada and New Zealand, are pushing Brussels for answers over the fate of their exports to the EU.
Their chief concern: If the EU blocks its own farmers from using glyphosate, those same farmers could make it almost impossible, politically, for Europe to continue importing food grown using the herbicide. To avoid accusations of double standards, EU countries will be under massive pressure to restrict imported products containing glyphosate.
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Despite the rapidly approaching deadline to decide on whether to renew glyphosate’s license, there is little sign of consensus. The Commission proposed a five-year renewal, but major member countries oppose this. Germany is trying to marshal support for a three-year extension. France and Belgium want the chemical to be phased out.
Countries will try again to strike a deal on November 9, a little more than a month before glyphosate’s EU license expires on December 15.
Should there be no break in the impasse, it will fall to the Commission to decide.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: Fears grow that EU glyphosate ban could disrupt global trade
