Campaigners call for ban on use of weedkiller glyphosate at harvest time
Summary
Campaigners want the UK to ban the use of glyphosate weedkiller to dry crops just before harvest, due to concerns it may leave harmful residues in food. The government will soon decide whether to allow its use after the current license ends in December 2026, following a public consultation this summer.Key Facts
- Glyphosate is a chemical weedkiller used by some farmers to dry crops before harvest.
- Campaigners and the Soil Association say this practice leaves glyphosate residues in foods like bread, cereals, and beer.
- Some scientific studies suggest glyphosate could be linked to cancer and other health problems.
- The EU banned using glyphosate as a crop drying agent in 2023, but it remains allowed for other uses there.
- The UK government’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will hold a two-month consultation this summer on renewing glyphosate’s approval.
- Some farmers and farming groups support glyphosate, saying it helps control weeds, reduce disease, and lower carbon emissions.
- Bayer, owner of Monsanto (which originally developed glyphosate), says no regulator has found the chemical causes cancer.
- The National Farmers Union calls glyphosate an essential farming tool and wants its approval renewed for 15 years.
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