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Austria is the first to ban glyphosate?
There is a chance that Austria will be the first European member state to ban the use of glyphosate. The country has more organic farmland than any other Member State and there are many proponents of a ban. In ambition it surpasses France.
The 'green' French government has according to Reuters, on the other hand, is slightly more positive about the use of glyphosate. They also see the benefits it brings to the sector. A large number of politicians in Austria think otherwise. They want glyphosate to disappear as quickly as possible on the basis of the health risks.
Broad political support
The Austrian Social Democratic Party issued a statement on Monday, July 1, about the possible ban on glyphosate. Pamela Rendi-Wagner, the party's chairman, says there is mounting scientific evidence that glyphosate may be a carcinogen. On Tuesday, July 2, the party leader of the right-wing FPÖ announced that he would agree to the ban. The two parties jointly have a majority in the Austrian Senate.
The ban is likely to be voted on on Tuesday, July 2. There is a good chance that this will be adopted, despite the fact that the European authorization for the substance still runs until December 2022. The Austrian Minister for Sustainability, which also includes agriculture and the environment, is against a ban. She even calls it against the law, because it is allowed in the European Union.
Organic cradle
The organic farming sector is nowhere as well represented as in Austria. Almost 25% of all agricultural land is organic, compared to an average of 7% in other European Member States. Mostly it is grassland. Estonia is in second place with almost 2%. With 20%, the Netherlands is almost at the bottom of the list. The figures give a distorted picture, because Austria has much less agricultural land than, for example, France and Italy. In absolute figures, the situation is more nuanced.
A glyphosate ban has a political twist in the country. The country is led by a temporary government, which is formed by civil servants and not by politicians. Elections are expected to take place in September. In the run-up to this, political parties are trying to forge alliances and satisfy their supporters by introducing laws and regulations before the summer recess.
The ban has now been voted on. Read more information here.
Niels van der Boom
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