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Campaigners call for ban on use of weedkiller glyphosate at harvest time
Campaigners in the UK are calling for a ban on using the weedkiller glyphosate to dry crops at harvest, citing health concerns and residues in bread, cereals, and beer. The Soil Association launched a campaign ahead of a forthcoming HSE consultation, while some farming groups defend continued use; in March 2026, international scientists issued a statement warning of health risks associated with glyphosate.
Why It Matters
The move ties food safety and farming practices to regulatory review and potential changes in UK agricultural policy.
Timeline
5 Events
GB glyphosate approval extended to December 2026
December 2026
Glyphosate remains approved for use in Great Britain until December 2026, after ministers extended its authorisation to give regulators time to review new data.
HSE to launch two-month public consultation on glyphosate renewal
May 6, 2026
The government says the HSE will launch a two-month public consultation in summer 2026 on whether approval for glyphosates should be renewed, taking account of new scientific, technical and regulatory evidence.
Soil Association launches UK campaign to end pre-harvest glyphosate use
May 6, 2026
The Soil Association launched a campaign to end its use as a pre-harvest desiccant in the UK, ahead of the HSE's upcoming two-month public consultation considering whether to renew glyphosate approval.
March 2026: International scientists publish expert statement on glyphosate health risks
March 2026
In March 2026, a group of international scientists gathered to review new science published over the last decade and issued an expert statement saying glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides harm human health and can cause cancer, with the evidence seen as strong enough to justify timely regulation.
EU bans pre-harvest glyphosate desiccation (2023)
2023
The European Union banned the use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest drying agent in 2023. Campaigners are calling the UK to follow suit, while glyphosate remains licensed for other uses on the continent.