- North Korea blows up roads, rails to South
- Thomas Tuchel set to be unveiled as new England manager - reports
- Russia working to undermine Moldova vote: US
- Trump says 'obnoxious' tariffs will bring factories to US
- Russia, China step up cybercriminal recruitment, warns Microsoft
- Kylian Mbappe 'shocked' to see name linked to Swedish rape investigation - lawyer to AFP
- Giant pandas flown to US from China aboard 'Panda Express'
- Sri Lanka level T20 series with record-breaking West Indies win
- French footballer Ben Yedder on trial for sexual assault
- India foreign minister in arch-rival Pakistan for rare visit
- Restored 'Apollo Belvedere' marble back on show in the Vatican
- Lagos festival dances to Nigerian icon Fela Kuti's beat
- Italian PM hails 'courageous' Albania migrant deal
- 'Tragedy in Jabalia' as Israel army tightens siege in north Gaza
- Draft UN climate pact leaves open thorny question of money
- Two giant pandas arrive in US from China aboard 'Panda Express'
- Musiala and Upamecano return to Bayern training
- Wirtz return 'unclear' after injury on Germany duty
- Ghulam says 'wait is over' after century on Pakistan debut
- Boeing to raise up to $25 bn as strike weighs on finances
- Two giant pandas arrive in US from China
- Japan hold Australia, S. Korea and China win in World Cup qualifying
- Mbappe's golden-boy image takes a hit amid negative headlines
- Hezbollah threatens to attack targets across Israel
- Oil prices fall on easing Middle East fears
- Wales lock Jenkins to miss November Tests with 'horrible' injury lay-off
- France to play Israel in Paris and allow fans in
- Twin panda cubs to make public debut at Berlin zoo
- Scotland's Kinghorn maintains Lions 'dream' despite Toulouse clash
- Pakistan debutant Ghulam hits century to defy England in second Test
- Boeing announces intention to raise up to $25 bn
- Tuchel 'in talks with FA' over England manager's job
- Dutch rider Lavreysen targets record at world track championships
- Bangladesh suspend Hathurusingha as coach after alleged assault
- Russian Olympic chief announces surprise resignation
- Ferguson to leave Man Utd ambassador role as club cuts costs
- Turkish govt defends tax plan to fund defence industry
- Oil prices tumble on easing Middle East fears
- Eidevall quits as Arsenal Women head coach
- US, Philippines launch war games after China's Taiwan drills, ship collision
- Swedish prosecutor confirms 'rape' probe without naming Mbappe
- England dismiss Ayub but Pakistan reach 173-3 at tea in second Test
- Israel vows to put 'national interest' first in response to Iran attack
- Oil prices hit by easing Middle East fears, most Asian markets rise
- Mbappe-PSG salary row faces hearing as France captain cited in 'rape' report
- K-pop star tells South Korea lawmakers of workplace bullying
- Ex-Wallabies captain Elsom denies wrongdoing after arrest warrant
- Pakistan 79-2 at lunch in second England Test after Leach strikes
- Hopes pinned on peace across Taiwan Strait after drills
- Valencia fans leave Singapore with 'stern warning' after protest
CMSC | 0.92% | 24.92 | $ | |
SCS | 0.95% | 13.105 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.83% | 25.189 | $ | |
BCE | 2.66% | 33.45 | $ | |
RIO | -1.42% | 66.755 | $ | |
NGG | 0.39% | 67.15 | $ | |
BCC | 0.89% | 144.27 | $ | |
GSK | -0.28% | 39.02 | $ | |
BTI | -0.13% | 35.405 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0.28% | 7.05 | $ | |
RBGPF | 1.67% | 60.5 | $ | |
JRI | -0.37% | 13.0389 | $ | |
VOD | -0.21% | 9.66 | $ | |
BP | -3.86% | 30.802 | $ | |
RELX | 1.73% | 48.215 | $ | |
AZN | -0.31% | 77.86 | $ |
EU fails to decide on glyphosate use extension
The EU failed Friday to agree extending the use of glyphosate -- a weedkiller the WHO fears could be carcinogenic -- because of division among the bloc's 27 member countries, a European Commission spokesman said.
"No sufficient majority" was reached in a vote on whether to renew glyphosate use for another 10 years, and the matter would now be kicked to an appeals committee in early November, Stefan De Keersmaecker told journalists.
If that committee failed to resolve the matter before current EU authorisation for glyphosate ends on December 15, the commission has the power to go ahead and decide whether or not to extend its use, he said.
"In that case, it's for the commission to take a decision on the issue," De Keersmaecker said. He added that the commission proposal could be modified after input from EU countries.
France, an agricultural powerhouse in the bloc, abstained in Friday's closed-door vote on the proposal, French Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau told AFP, putting weighted majority approval out of reach.
Germany had already said it could not accept extending the use of glyphosate, which is used in popular herbicides such as Roundup from German group Bayer, which acquired it when it bought US company Monsanto.
Austria and Luxembourg had indicated they would vote against the proposal, while Belgium and the Netherlands said they would abstain.
Sweden, Italy and Portugal are among the EU countries in favour of renewing glyphosate use.
A Bayer spokesman said following Friday's inconclusive vote that the company was "confident that in the next stage of the approval process enough other member states will back the renewal of authorisation proposed by the commission".
The previous authorisation expired in December 2022 but was extended by a year pending a scientific study of the herbicide.
The current commission proposal would authorise its usage until December 15, 2033, double the previous five-year authorisation but less than the 15-year period initially planned.
- 'Mountains of studies' -
The World Health Organization in 2015 classed glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic", spurring concerns about its continued use.
However the European Food Safety Authority in July this year said it "did not identify critical areas of concern" although it recognised there were "data gaps" in reaching that assessment.
The commission said it based its proposal on that EFSA evaluation.
"Mountains of studies and data have been analysed by the European Food Safety Authority, by the European Chemical Agency, and they have come to the conclusion that there are no major risks of concern to be taken into account for the product of glyphosate, which is the reason why we made our proposal," De Keersmaecker said.
Another spokesman, Eric Mamer, said the commission had followed "scientific advisers who have been reviewing all of the evidence".
Environmental activists said there was scientific evidence that glyphosate may cause cancer, poison aquatic life and can be fatal to key pollinators like bees.
The commission has sought to address the concerns by requiring risk mitigations such as buffer zones around fields sprayed with glyphosate and equipment to prevent the spray drifting to other areas.
It also urged member states to "pay particular attention" to effects on the environment and set conditions on the herbicide's use.
A.Malone--AMWN