Luxembourg, the first country in the European Union to ban the sale of herbicide glyphosate-based products, will soon have to reauthorize it. the sentence just handed down by the justice of that country.
On 1 February 2020, Luxembourg withdrew its authorization to market glyphosate. Chemical substance commonly used in phytosanitary products and potentially carcinogenic according to WHO.
The Luxembourg government allowed the sale of existing reserves to continue. The full ban began on January 1, 2021.
Bayer, the producer of the glyphosate-based RoundUp pesticide, appealed against Luxembourg’s decision. He argued that European law was not respected.
The ban was finally overturned by a decision by the Luxembourg administrative court that pointed to “the absence of the slightest legal argument” to ban the eight affected products, including glyphosate, against the EU legal regime allowing its distribution.
The Luxembourg Ministry of Agriculture confirmed this Monday that rescinding the veto will have the following consequences: “Authorities (…) are withdrawn from the penalty date”.
Agriculture Minister Claude Haagen said he “notes” the court’s decision. “After a detailed analysis of the punishment, the government will decide on the next steps to be taken and these steps will be announced when the time comes,” the statement said.
Glyphosate-based pesticides are mostly used in agriculture and horticulture to combat crops-competing weeds.
Although the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of the carcinogenic risks of glyphosate in 2015, the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) and European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) later claimed they had scientific evidence to classify the herbicide. earth, as non-carcinogenic.
Last December, the European Commission extended the authorization for the use of glyphosate in the EU until the end of 2023.