The European Commission will continue the use of the controversial chemical herbicide glyphosate in the European Union for 10 more years after the 27 member countries again failed to find a common position for or against a prolongation.

Representatives of EU states were unable to reach a decision last month, and a new vote by an appeal committee was again unconclusive on Thursday. Because of the deadlock, the EU’s executive arm said it will endorse its own proposal and renew the approval of glyphosate for 10 years, with new conditions attached.

“These restrictions include a prohibition of pre-harvest use as a desiccant and the need for certain measures to protect non-target organisms,” it said in a statement.

The chemical, which is widely used in the bloc to the great anger of environment groups, had been approved in the EU market until mid-December.

  • @erranto
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    21 year ago

    What’s the role an EU parliament then. The EU commission consists of unelected bureaucrats

    • @pousserapiere
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      11 year ago

      Well, member state representatives in the commission are proposed by the Member State government, then auditioned and vetted by the parliament. It’s indirect democracy but they’re not coming out of nowhere.