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The EU Commission has decided to authorise the use of the active ingredient glyphosate in weedkillers for a further ten years. As in October, the appeal committee failed to reach a qualified majority in favour of either a new authorisation or a ban. The decision therefore went to the Commission, which, according to observers, took the decision surprisingly quickly. A qualified majority is only achieved if at least 55 per cent of the EU states (15 out of 27 countries), which together make up at least 65 per cent of the total population of the EU, vote for or against a proposal.
In the first vote on 13 October, six states abstained, including Germany and France. According to observers, the voting behaviour was similar this time. The EU Commission emphasised that the member states are responsible for the national authorisation of plant protection products containing glyphosate. They could continue to restrict their use at national and regional level "if they consider this necessary based on the results of risk assessments, in particular taking into account the need to protect biodiversity". However, it would not be possible for individual states to go it alone in favour of a ban.
(al / Source: orf.at)