France Withdraws License for Bayer’s Glufosinate Herbicide after Health Review

Posted on Oct 27 2017 - 12:36am by Sustainable Pulse

French health and environment regulator ANSES said on Thursday it had withdrawn the license for Bayer’s Basta F1 weedkiller made with glufosinate-ammonium, citing uncertainty over its effect on health following a review.

Bayer Class-Action

The product, which is used to spray vineyards, fruit orchards and vegetables, was the only weedkiller containing glufosinate authorized in France, ANSES said in a statement, reported by Reuters.

Glufosinate is an alternative to glyphosate, the world’s most popular weedkiller substance which is currently the subject of fierce debate in the European Union over whether its license should be extended.

On Wednesday an initial round of votes on the proposed 10 year re-license for glyphosate by European Union (EU) member states failed to reach a majority and has thus forced the European Commission (EC) to consider a phase out or shorter license for the world”s most used herbicide. France was one of the leading countries to vote against the re-license.

On Tuesday, MEPs at the European Parliament voted to ban the use of glyphosate in Europe, 244 out of  355 MEPs voted to ban glyphosate completely in 2022 and to refuse the 10 year re-license for glyphosate, with restrictions on use from 2018.

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  1. Ruby October 28, 2017 at 17:08 - Reply

    Thanks for your work and sharing your insight!

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