Agrochemical giant Monsanto is defending its Roundup weedkiller against a claim that it can cause cancer, and says reports that it has been banned in France and other European countries are untrue.
This week, newspapers reported that French ecology minister Ségolène Royal had announced a ban in France on over-the-counter sales of Roundup in garden centres. Earlier stories claimed that it has also been outlawed in The Netherlands.

The reports follow a study in March reportedly done by the World Health Organisation (WHO), concluding that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is "probably carcinogenic to humans".

However, Monsanto says all the claims are false and misleading. Speaking to diyweek.net, Roundup UK business director Gary Philpotts said that Ms Royal "cannot ban Roundup because in the EU it's approved for use. It's absolutely not the case that Roundup is banned in France or The Netherlands - it's not banned anywhere in Europe, though some retailers have decided not to stock it.

"What she is saying is that they were considering making retailers put pesticides behind a locked shelf."

He said that that was the case in Germany, Poland and Denmark, although locked shelves are not used in the Netherlands.

He said it was also frustrating that Ms Royal had referred to Roundup specifically in her statement, when she had probably meant to talk about products in general that contain glyphosate.

Monsanto introduced the glyphosate herbicide to the market in the 1970s under the Roundup name. Glyphosate is now used in around 180 domestic and commercial weedkiller products, but Roundup is reportedly the world's best seller.

Mr Philpotts also took issue with the scares about glyphosate being carcinogenic. He said that, contrary to some reports, it was not the WHO which had determined a risk of cancer but the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which he described as "a group of academics affiliated to the WHO".

And he said: "There isn't really any credible data that shows health risks from glyphosate - and there's a wealth of data from all around the world."

Renewal of the authorisation of glyphosate which allows it to be put on sale is conducted at European level every 10 years. The current renewal process was led by Germany, which reaffirmed the safety of the substance in early 2015. The German report is now subject to review by the European Food Safety Authority before a final decision by the European Commission.

Mr Philpotts told diyweek.net that approval was expected sometime between the end of this year and early 2016. "And we strongly hope and expect that glyphosate approval will be renewed at EU level," he said. "There's nothing to say it won't."

In a statement released after the announcement by Ms Royal, Monsanto said: "Glyphosate's regulatory status is perfectly clear and as of today there is no new or recent scientific data that has given regulators pause to question its authorisation or sales conditions...

"Monsanto is confident in the quality of the products that we offer to gardeners and which have been specifically designed for a safe usage at home. When used according to the recommendations on the packaging, the product does not pose any specific risks to the user."

It said it promoted good practices for gardeners, which included using the right product at the right place at the right time - a clear day with no wind to avoid drift and run-off, and the right equipment - a sprayer.

Nevertheless, European retailers are growing increasingly nervous about glyphosate-based products. Swiss supermarket Migros has reportedly removed them from sale, as has German DIY chain Toom. German DIY and garden multiples Globus Baumarkt and Knauber are also said to be opting out.

And pressure is growing on other German retailers to follow suit. German conservation body NABU said: "Glyphosate is the herbicide most widely used in Germany, of which still 51 different applications for the home and garden area are permitted.

"We hope that finally the other DIY stores like Bauhaus, Hornbach or Obi fulfill their responsibilities and remove glyphosate as quickly as possible from the shelves."

Mr Philpotts confirmed that certain European retailers had removed the product from sale. "Some retailers do feel pressure when they've got activists coming into their store," he said. "But one of the fears for retailers is if they give in to this pressure from activists now, what's next? Detergents, other biocides, where does it stop?"

He said he was not aware that any major UK retailers had stopped selling Roundup.