Maltese MEPs have praised the government’s change of heart over the authorisation of the “probable human carcinogen” glyphosate.
The environment ministry announced on Tuesday that it would vote against the substance, a common ingredient in weedkillers, at a crucial vote on a European Commission proposal to extend its use by nine years.
The government had previously indicated its support for the proposal.
“As one of the MEPs who voted in April to ban these substances with immediate effect, notwithstanding the position of the Maltese government at the time, I certainly welcome the change of opinion of the Maltese government on this important environmental and health matter,” Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi told the Times of Malta yesterday.
The European Parliament voted in April against the Commission’s original proposal of a 15-year extension for glyphosate. MEPs called for its use to be extended for seven years, but banned for non-professional uses and close to playgrounds and parks, among other restrictions.
Maltese MEPs, all of whom were in favour of the final document, were among those rejecting the Commission’s proposal and pushing for further restrictions.
Miriam Dalli was not present for the vote, but has also called for an outright ban in the past, which she has described as a matter of public health over commercial interest.
Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola also welcomed the government’s new stance on glyphosate yesterday.
She highlighted that the EP report in April had also called for an end to the use of glyphosate to optimise the date of harvesting or to kill a cultivated plant just before harvest, which can lead to increased human exposure.
“We also voted to take more co-formulants than the co-formulant POE-tallowamine (the ban on which is already planned by the Commission) off the market,” Dr Metsola said.
The authorisation for glyphosate expires on June 30, after which all products would have to be removed from EU markets. The Commission has since proposed a limited extension until after the European Chemicals Agency reports on the dangers of glyphosate in 2017.
However, the new proposal still faces staunch opposition from several member states.