Two-thirds of people in Europe are in favour of prohibiting the chemical herbicide glyphosate, the most widely used agricultural chemical in the world’s history.
More than 9 million tonnes of glyphosate have been used on crops since 1974, but the product is capable of killing all plants, algae, beneficial bacteria and fungi in the vicinity of the crop, affecting biodiversity.
A ban was supported by 75% of Italians, 70% of Germans, 60% of French and 56% of Brit, according to a Yougov survey of 7,000 people.
Tests in 2013 detected residue traces in the urine of people in 18 European countries as well as 60% of breads sold in Britain. Another test last year found traces in 14 German beers.
Glyphosate is used in best-selling weed killers made by Monsanto, which markets it as Roundup, Dow and Syngenta, but scientific opinion on the herbicide varies.
The World Health Organisation’s cancer scientists last year dubbed it “probably carcinogenic to humans” while the EU’s European Food Safety Authority declared it “unlikely” to pose a public health risk.
The current licence for glyphosate will expire in June. It is believed that currently 11 of the EU28 are opposed to relicensing, making it difficult for the European commission to come to a decision. Its negotiators are working on compromise proposals varying from a shorter extension, to a ban on certain ingredients.
The vote on the issue is most likely to take place at a committee meeting in Brussels on 19 May.
