Now EU fat cats want to ban our WEEDKILLER despite British Government OPPOSING plans
EUROPEAN Union bureaucrats have set their sights on Britain’s keen gardeners as they look to ban the most common type of weedkiller.
Jean-Claude Juncker's European Commission faces a decision whether to ban weedkiller
Experts have warned that the UK’s green-fingered patrol could have to endure an endless string of weeds after the latest Brussels vote.
MEPs voted to ban glyphosate, which is the key component of popular weedkiller Roundup regularly used by the public.
It comes despite the science world being divided over whether the herbicide poses a threat to those that use it.
MEPs have advised the Commission to ban public use of the herbicide
The World Health Organisation ruled last year that the compound is “probably carcinogenic”.
But the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) maintains that glyphosate is not likely to cause cancer, with the British Government supporting its continued use.
The current license for the chemical expires in June and the European Commission is currently debating whether to approve the herbicide for a further 15 years.
Broadcaster Bunny Guinness has hit out at the Eurocrats' decision
But meddling MEPs have advised the Commission to block “non-professionals” from using it and only extend any sort of license for the chemical for another seven years.
Popular gardening broadcaster Bunny Guinness has hit out at the interfering Eurocrats, warning gardeners would be “weeding for the rest of your life”.
She added: “It seems to me that at the moment there is no scientific evidence that it is dangerous.
“It is really the only effective weed-killer against perennial weeds like bindweed, ground elder and couch grass.”
A spokesman for Monsanto, the company which makes Roundup, said: “There is no scientific reason why glyphosate should not continue to be available for gardeners.”
Gardeners could be set to face a lifetime of weeds
The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs claimed that “UK experts agree” with the EFSA’s finding that glyphosate doesn’t pose a risk to humans.
A spokesman said: “We recognise the importance of effective pesticides to farmers and we remain entirely committed to making them available where the regulators are satisfied and scientific evidence shows they do not pose unacceptable risks to human health or the environment.
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“The European Food Safety Authority did not find that glyphosate posed a risk to human health and UK experts agree.
“We now await the decision by the European Commission on the renewal of its approval.”