The finding in a new report by European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) that glyphosate is not carcinogenic has been hailed as positive news and welcomed by farmers.

The report concluded that “the available scientific evidence did not meet the criteria to classify glyphosate as a carcinogen, as a mutagen or as toxic for reproduction”.

IFA president Joe Healy said the glyphosate issue is being used as a political football by a small number of vested interest groups to drive their own agenda.

“It is vitally important that any decision to approve or not approve plant protection products is based on the best scientific evidence available and not on a political whim, avoiding a repeat of what happened in 2007 and 2016.”

Conflicting scientific reports

There has been much confusion over the past two years as scientific reports have offered conflicting views on the chemical.

As member states did not come to an agreement last summer, the European Commission re-authorised glyphosate for an interim period of 18 months at the end of last June, pending the report from ECHA.

“Unfortunately, politics rather than science has been the main driver behind several important decisions taken in relation to crop production technologies in recent years. This has the potential to destroy the EU crop production sector in the near to medium term and will lead to significant land abandonment,” Joe Healy said.

IFA Grain chair Liam Dunne added glyphosate has been used in Irish and European farming for almost 40 years.

“The herbicide is an integral part of the modern farming practice in both tillage and grassland production. Glyphosate is a systemic product which is translocated to the rhizomes or roots of perennial weeds providing long-term control”.

Listen to the Irish Farmers Journal tillage editor Andy Doyle explain why the finding is significant and will pave the way for other products coming to the market, but why it doesn’t guarantee that glyphosate will be relicensed:

Listen to “Glyphosate finding positive but it's not over yet” on Spreaker.

Read more

ECPA calls for decision to approve glyphosate to be based on fact not fear

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