Cost: €1,06 billion
France braces for glyphosate ban
A ban on glyphosate costs French grain growers about €1,06 billion annually. This is reported by the Ipsos Institute in a new publication on the use of the herbicide in French agriculture. The loss for the wine sector amounts to €0,9 billion per year. If it is up to the French Ministry of the Environment, there will be no renewal of the license.
For the study by the Ipsos Institute, 904 French farmers were interviewed about the use of glyphosate on their farm. The hard conclusion is that a ban will cost billions for the entire sector. On the one hand, because the yields fall and on the other hand, because fewer products can be exported.
France votes against
At the end of August, Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot known France to vote against extending the re-registration of glyphosate. The current license expires in December. On October 4, the European Union (EU) will vote on a new authorization for 10 years. The reason given by the ministry is that it is uncertain how much danger the herbicide actually poses and whether it is carcinogenic.
EU policy falters
Even if a majority of European member states votes for an extension, France can ban the drug on its own soil. So says Vytenis Andriukaitis, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety. Re-registration requires a majority of member states. However, France, along with Germany, is an important player. A German association for the use of glyphosate also came up with a last month research to the middle.
Huge consequences of ban
"A ban on the drug has consequences on a micro and macro level," says Ipsos. A financial loss of €1,06 billion is expected for cereals. For wine, that is €0,9 billion. In arable crops, costs go up by 26%, resulting in 33% less profit for grain companies. About 72% of the farmers surveyed believe that the economic situation of their farms will deteriorate as a result of the ban. Farmers' advocates emphasize that alternatives are not available.
9
out of 10
The environment is worse off
The OPG, the trade association for the grain sector, calls a ban a step backwards. During an Ipsos survey last year, 9 out of 10 respondents already said they use other herbicides for weed control. Often in a higher dose, so that the environment only deteriorates.
New EFSA study is clear
More news about glyphosate came from EFSA, the European Food and Safety Authority, in early September. The European Commission (EC) asked the organization in October 2016 to find out whether the active ingredient disrupts the hormone balance. This does not appear to be the case, additional research shows.
The result is in line with that of the American organization EPA. In June 2015, they came to the same conclusion, as did other studies before that time. The EC asked EFSA to conduct new research after the anti-lobby argued that glyphosate disrupts hormone balance.
Niels van der Boom
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