Glyphosate is the active ingredient in, for example, Bayer’s herbicide Roundup. The German company acquired this drug after the takeover of its American competitor Monsanto.
Bayer is now struggling with numerous lawsuits from people who say they have developed cancer and Parkinson’s due to the use of Roundup. In the United States, there are tens of thousands of cases in which Americans try to obtain compensation for alleged health damage. Bayer has set aside money to cover these costs. At the end of 2023, this amounted to 6.3 billion dollars.
The European Commission decided in November last year to allow the use of the controversial weed killer glyphosate for another 10 years, due to a standoff between EU countries.
The extension of the European permit does not necessarily mean that glyphosate will be permitted in Belgium in the coming years. EU countries can decide for themselves exactly where and how they want to authorize the drug. Due to the uncertainty about the harmful effects of glyphosate on humans and the environment, a ban on the sale of the substance to and its use by private individuals has been in force in Belgium for a number of years. The ban applies to all synthetic herbicides. Professionals are allowed to use it.
Green previously called the latter incomprehensible. “It is not logical that glyphosate is banned on your driveway, but can still end up on your plate through agriculture,” suggested Jeremie Vaneeckhout, co-chairman of Groen.