News Crop protection
Province of North Holland bans the use of glyphosate
Farmers who lease land from the Province of Noord-Holland are no longer allowed to use glyphosate on it. From 1 November, a ban will apply to the new lease contracts.
The ban on the use of glyphosate on provincial land is included in the amended lease policy of the province of Noord-Holland. On plots within the Netherlands Nature Network (NNN), the use of the weed killer was already prohibited.
European ban threatens
Glyphosate has been under a social magnifying glass for years because of the alleged harmful effects on humans and animals. A European ban threatens, but glyphosate still has a permit until January 1, 2023. Despite this, the use is in different countries already (phased) restricted.
Other governments are also introducing a glyphosate ban on their lands, including now the province of North Holland. “The EU will evaluate use in 2022. We don't want to wait for that,” says deputy Esther Rommel. “We are doing our utmost to protect biodiversity in our province. This ban helps with that. We want to control weeds as much as possible with mechanical or ecological techniques.”
Before the judge
Previously, Staatsbosbeheer, among others, already imposed a glyphosate ban on 40.000 hectares of leased land. A ban was also included in the lease agreements for 2020 of the municipality of Gilze en Rijen in North Brabant. However, this requirement was rejected by the Ground Chamber declared illegal† The ban on the use of glyphosate would limit the tenant's freedom of exploitation too much. In a similar case in the province of Noord-Brabant, the province has appealed against the decision of the Ground Chamber. The judge ruled in favor of the province.
Jeanette Pennings
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