The Netherlands will abstain in the final EU vote on the renewal of the authorisation of the controversial herbicide glyphosate this week, Agriculture Minister Piet Adema (CU/EPP) said, despite most lawmakers urging the cabinet to vote against it.
Glyphosate – the most widely used herbicide in the EU – has long been controversial due to its potential carcinogenicity and adverse effects on plants and animals, with health campaigners and environmentalists strongly opposing its proposed re-authorisation by the EU Commission.
“I believe the nuanced position of the Netherlands is not done justice by a vote for or against the […] proposal,” the minister stated in a letter to parliament.
“Therefore […] the Netherlands will abstain from voting on the European Commission’s re-approval of glyphosate,” he added.
Adema stated that there is no evidence of a causal link between glyphosate and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, although studies have shown “associations” between the two.
He also referred to the verdict of EU food safety authority EFSA, which found “no critical areas of concern” related to glyphosate back in July.
However, the minister also took into account the concerns of lawmakers in his decision, who had urged the cabinet to oppose a re-approval of the herbicide in a motion last September.
In his letter, Adema called on EFSA to develop assessment frameworks for the herbicide’s links to neurodegenerative diseases and its effects on biodiversity. He also announced that he will ask the Commission to confirm that glyphosate’s authorisation will be withdrawn if scientific evidence of its adverse effects on humans, animals and the environment is found.
The decision drew considerable criticism from centre-left and left-wing lawmakers.
“Adema, against the wishes of the parliament, is not opting for the health of farmers, gardeners and local residents by not voting against the approval of glyphosate in Brussels,” D66 (Renew) lawmaker Tjeerd de Groot posted on X, adding that “there is too much scientific evidence that this chemical leads to […] diseases like Parkinson’s”.
“Associations with Parkinson’s and then still dare not take a stand. The government should protect the health of its citizens rather than the interests of the poison industry,” GroenLinks (EU Greens) lawmaker Laura Bromet added.
However, the decision was praised by the Dutch farmers’ organisation LTO Nederland.
“LTO believes that with this position [of neutrality], the Dutch government is doing justice to the complex and nuanced situation at the moment,” the organisation stated in a press release.
“When products are assessed as safe according to the best available knowledge, it should also be possible to use these products in Dutch agricultural practice,” it added.
The EU member states will vote on the Commission’s proposal during a sitting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (PAFF Committee) on Friday
(Benedikt Stöckl | Euractiv.com)
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