Withdrawal of Glyphosate

[Adam Cheeseman]

Have heard through the grapevine that there are plans afoot to withdraw Glyphosate from legal use in this country. Has anyone else heard of this or have any details. Apparently it is ude to pressure from Europe (Germany) and the Green Party out there who have a strong say in what goes on.
If this is true it will have serious implications for many conservation managers (and besides) who use Glyphosate for controlling invasive plants etc.
Just hope this is a bit of hearsay that will not come to fruition.

Cheers,

Adam

[Stinky Bob]

I am not surprised as I think the EU term for it as "toxic to the environment" but as far as I know its about the only effective current solution for JK and HB (for Posie Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam), so it will be a tricky one, but on the plus side anything that hurts the profits of Monsanto can't be bad (even if they dont hold the patent for it anymore)

[JoulesH]

God help us if this is banned not only wildlife managers will really struggle; use of glyphosate enables us to let "weeds" grow for wildlife safe in the knowledge that we can zap them off later in the year with minimal risk to the soils and wider environment. Many other selective products are a lot nastier. An ex-colleague of mine (with a Ph D in soil science and many years experience researching pesticide fate) managed to stop the Scandinavian countries banning it a few years ago and I hadn't heard someone was on the warpath again.

[Paul mabbott]

Compared to various other legal weedkillers, those based on glyphosate are harmless! There may be some objections to certain formulations - for instance the Monsanto herbicide (whose name we all know but which I've forgotten at the moment ) has been accused of being harmful to amphibians - not because of the glyphosate but because of the carrier solution ....

[IanS]

I too would be very surprised about a ban but with the EU who knows!

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by IanS

I too would be very surprised about a ban but with the EU who knows!

Nothing surprises me with the EC

[Monkey Orchid]

Most of these "Oh look what those crazy European parliamentarians are telling us to do/not do now" stories turn out to be unsubstantiated rumours or journalistic inventions which tap into the rich seam of anti-European predjudice in the UK, so maybe don't worry too much at this point...

Of course glyphosate is toxic (other wise it wouldn't work as a herbicide!) but I agree it's less nasty than other substances of its ilk.

[Brocakat]

I'd be very, very suprised, as Arable Farmers are totaly reliant on this pesticide - this
pesticide that is very benign compared to others that have now, thankfully been withdrawn.

The company Monsanto - Monsanto ~ Home manufacture about 80% of all the Active Ingredient Glyphosate.

Their Press Office could have heard something....whether they would say anything - I dunno - they would certainly wish to corral any support from the likes of farmers, etc etc - not to mention Local Authorities....

[Tringa]

This is off topic, but read this in Scientific American recently.

Not a complete cure but it seems like a good environmentally friendly start, at least.

Drastic Measures: 8 Wild Ways to Combat Invasive Species: Scientific American Slideshows

Dave

[bigdave60dog]

Help. Stock up with Roundup rightaway. As far as I can tell it is the least toxic (to non plant life) weedkiller on the market. It inactivates with contact with soil, It only affects plants sprayed (It will translocate up runners etc.)
and is very sffective against some weeds that are very damaging to habitats.
I`m all for the stuff. that is the only chemical that I have used in 13 years now.