The European Commission has failed to make a decision on whether to reapprove the license for the world's most widely-used weedkiller, glyphosate.
The Standing Committee on plants, animals, food and feed met on June 6 to decide whether to renew the authorization of glyphosate. The weedkiller is the active ingredient in herbicide Roundup.

It comes after the proposed license was cut from 15 years to just 18 months, but as with two previous meetings, no decision was reached. The vote will now take place at the end of June before an appeals committee.

If the license is ruled out on June 30, it means manufacturers will have to dispose of their remaining stocks in the next six months. The vote was called "hugely disappointing" by the European Crop Protection Association, who said: "ECPA shares the sentiment voiced by Commissioner Andriukaitis last week when he said decisions should remain based on science, not political convenience. ECPA frequently hears politicians proclaim Europe has the safest food safety system in the world: with this decision all they do is cast doubt on that system, and create fear and confusion amongst Europe's consumers: the very people the system is designed to protect.

"Failure to re-approve glyphosate would have significant negative repercussions for the competitiveness of European agriculture, the environment, and the ability of farmers to produce safe and affordable food."

Meanwhile, last week saw four of the UK's national farming unions writing an open letter to the European Commission urging them to respect the regulatory process and reapprove glyphosate.

The NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and UFU said: "European armers need glyphosate to provide a safe, secure and affordable food supply while increasingly responding to consumer demand for greater environmental sensitivity."

"It is deeply worrying that a decision that has very real consequences on millions of peoples' everyday lives is the subject of political bargaining. We urge a return to evidence-led policymaking that is insulated from political swings and based on fair scientific risk assessment."