Calls to ban the spraying of chemical which is common ingedient in weedkillers

CAMPAIGNERS are calling for the Government to ban the spraying of glyphosate on UK crops at harvest following studies linking it to cancer and other illnesses.

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Guy Singh-Watson, founder of organic veg box company Riverford, at his farm in Devon

Glyphosate - commonly known for being the active ingredient in the product Roundup - is used by some farmers to tackle weeds, but it is also often sprayed on crops to dry them out at harvest time.

The Soil Association warned that this left residues in foods such as bread, breakfast cereal, and beer, with nearly half of crop samples tested in the UK across wheat, barley and oats containing the chemical.

Use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest drying agent was banned in the EU in 2023, and campaigners are calling on the UK Government to do the same.

Farmers Weekly reported in December that the renewal of glyphosate’s licence in Great Britain was entering a “critical stage”, with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) set to launch a major public consultation ahead of a final approval decision later this year.

The consultation will allow farmers, industry, and farming organisations to comment on the extensive scientific dossier submitted by the Glyphosate Renewal Group (GRG), a coalition including Bayer, Syngenta, Nufarm and five other companies seeking renewal of the active ingredient.

Glyphosate remains approved for use in Great Britain until December 15, after ministers extended its authorisation to give regulators time to review new data.