Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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482. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ban the use of glyphosate; the rationale for the reversal of the ban on pre-harvest spraying of crops in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50032/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The scientific assessments completed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) concluded that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans and can be used safely without putting consumers or users at risk and therefore support the continued approval of glyphosate. This is in line with the approach of regulatory authorities throughout the world. My Department therefore supported the proposal from the European Commission for the re-approval of glyphosate for a period of five years. The proposal to renew the approval of glyphosate for a five year period received qualified majority support among EU Member States at a meeting to vote on approval of Glyphosate on the 27 November.  

While the use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant does not pose a risk to consumers and is proven to be safe, my Department nonetheless disallowed this practice following the extension of the approval of glyphosate by the EU Commission in 2016.  However, there are situations where perennial weeds may be controlled using glyphosate in standing cereal and oilseed crops. The decision by my Department to allow use in this circumstance is in line with the Commission recommendation forming part of the 2016 approval extension and was informed by the implementation plans of other Member States,

My Department will continue to ensure that all glyphosate product authorisations in Ireland are in accordance with the recently agreed EU renewal decision.