Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the European Parliament's decision to phase out the use of glyphosphate; and if he will make a statement.

The Government believes that effective pesticides should be authorised where the scientific evidence shows they do not pose unacceptable risks to human health or the environment. UK and EU specialists have identified no safety concerns which would preclude the continuing use of glyphosate so the Government supports its continued approval.

The European Parliament does not have a formal role in the decision-making process for this issue. The decision will be taken by the European Commission following a vote by Member States. That decision will be binding on the UK while we are still within the EU.