Germany reportedly agrees to ban GMO crops, phase out glyphosate herbicide 'as soon as possible'

After a week of talks, German coalition negotiators agreed on the cornerstones of their new programme. But when a new government could actively participate in meaningful EU reform is still uncertain. EURACTIV Germany reports.


In the programme, there is not much left of the optimism and visions for a leading role in Europe that was once touted. The upcoming SPD party congress vote is hanging like the sword of Damocles above the final decision over the forming of a new government.

After the controversial renewal of weed killer glyphosate’s EU approval,its usage will be limited in Germany and “as soon as possible essentially terminated”, the former German agriculture minister Christian Schmidt (CSU) said. Schmidt upset the apple cart when he went rogue and significantly contributed to the re-licensing of glyphosate.

In the meantime, Schmidt, now the acting German minister of transport, got rebuked by the Commission, because in 28 German regions pollution with health-damaging nitric oxides, a by-product of diesel engines is considered too high.

Germany is now threatened by an infringement procedure and a lawsuit at EU level. But this did not prevent Schmidt from explicitly thanking the German car industry at the New Year’s reception of the German Association of the Automotive Industry.

At the same time, according to a recent survey the majority of Germans are against the usage of glyphosate and in favour of more sustainable agriculture.