EU member states will be told to pay particular attention to the protection of animals such as voles or wildflowers in risk analyses.

EU extends glyphosate authorization

European farmers will be able to use the herbicide for at least another decade, but it’s not without conditions

Reuters – The European Union has authorized the use of glyphosate for 10 more years, but there will be new conditions, the EU Commission announced Nov. 16. The current period of authorization was set to expire in mid-December. New restrictions will include measures to protect animals and plants that are not the actual target of glyphosate use. The


(File photo by Dave Bedard)

EU countries fail to agree on extending glyphosate approval

Current approval expires Dec. 15

Brussels | Reuters — European Union governments failed on Friday to give a decisive opinion on a proposal to extend by 10 years EU approval for the use of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Bayer’s Roundup herbicide. A “qualified majority” of 15 countries representing at least 65 per cent of the bloc’s population had been

 Photo: Altayb/istock/getty images

EU seeks revised GMO rules to loosen curbs on gene-edited crops

Countries including Canada have put gene-edited plants at a lower regulatory level than GMOs, but the conversation has been ongoing in the EU

The European Commission proposed a revision of its rules on genetically modified organisms July 5 to loosen restrictions for plants resulting from newer gene-editing technology. The EU executive said the move would allow farmers to secure access to climate or pest-resistant crops with less fertilizers or pesticides and consumers would be able to buy food with better nutritional value