The use of glyphosate as a desiccant could come under the spotlight in the next EU round of voting on the renewal of its licence.

Italy proposed a ban on the use of glyphosate as a desiccant, which has now been adopted as a firm proposal by the EU Commission.

EU member states in regions where farmers encounter wet harvests on a regular basis fear that a blanket ban on the pre-harvest use would cause major impracticalities.

See also: EU fails to agree on glyphosate 10-year licence renewal

However, the commission is not seeking a blanket ban on the use of glyphosate pre-harvest, as it still considers it necessary for weed control according to good agricultural practice.

The appropriate use of glyphosate pre-harvest can reduce weed burden and protect grain quality in cereal, oilseed rape and pulse crops, the AHDB says.

In Scotland, glyphosate is viewed as an essential tool for growers due to the shorter growing season and cooler, wetter climatic conditions than in drier, warmer areas of the UK and Europe.

One representative from the British Agriculture Bureau (BAB), which champions the NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and the Ulster Farmers’ Union in Brussels, told NFU Scotland’s autumn conference last week that one scenario could see glyphosate receive a 10-year extension in the EU, but with a desiccation use ban.

But one industry source said: “We do not believe the pre-harvest use of glyphosate in the case of oilseed rape and cereals will change in countries where this is necessary.

“We expect where member states believe they need to use it (pre-harvest), they will be able to do so for weed control in line with good agricultural practices.”

Second vote

The EU Commission’s appeal committee is expected to discuss and vote on a decision to renew the EU licence of glyphosate in mid-November.

The referral comes after member states failed to agree on a proposal to relicense glyphosate for a further 10 years.

A decision on the renewal needs to be taken by 14 December this year, as the current approval expires on 15 December.

The EU renewal of glyphosate’s licence will affect Ireland and Northern Ireland, while England, Scotland and Wales continue with the existing authorisation until a GB renewal process is put in place.

The current GB licence for glyphosate is due to expire in December 2025. However, it is expected that the UK government will initiate a renewal process before then.