European member states have failed to reach a qualified majority decision in today’s (June 6) vote concerning the possible extension to the glyphosate license.

EU Commission for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, made a statement last week reiterating 'the ball is now in member states’ court', ahead of today’s Standing Committee debate.

Despite this, member states have failed to reach a majority.

"Today at the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed there was no qualified majority of Member States in favor or against the proposal of extending the current approval of glyphosate for a limited period of time, until the opinion on the substance would be given by the European Agency for Chemical Products," a Commission spokesperson told www.freshfruitportal.com.

"So far, even though a majority of Member States is in favor of the renewal, no qualified majority has been reached, in spite of the Commission’s efforts to accommodate requests and concerns from a number of national governments, as well as from the European Parliament.

"Member States should take their own responsibilities and not try to hide behind the Commission."

Tomorrow (June 7), Commissioner Andriukaitis is due to inform other Commissioners and discuss the next steps to be taken.

The Commission has proposed an 18-month extension to the glyphosate license, pending a new study into the safety of glyphosate by the European Chemical Agency, due next year.

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