Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017
1364. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the prevalence of the use of glyphosate here and if he has concerns regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41326/16]
View answerGlyphosate is a non-selective herbicide being first commercialised in the mid 1970s and is now registered worldwide. It is used in agriculture, forestry, industrial, home & garden, and semi aquatic areas. While glyphosate is primarily used as a means of total weed control prior to the establishment of field crops, it is also quite important in the re-establishment of forestry plantations and also in the whole amenity sector, in the maintenance of municipal and public areas and by private gardeners. Currently, there is no alternative active substance with similar scope, purpose and safety profile. Annual use of glyphosate is approximately 800,000kg.
The EU review of glyphosate supported by reviews completed by authorities around the world support the position that use of glyphosate is safe, therefore it continues to be registered for use in the EU.
