Farmers across the EU have been frustrated by the European Standing Committee reaching a "no opinion" position regarding the reauthorisation of the herbicide glyphosate.
Glyphosate is widely used across the EU to fight weeds that compete with crops and to hasten the ripening process in cereals by killing off any un-ripened grains.
The decision will now go through the appeals process. This involves a meeting of representatives of each member state (not standing committee experts) being asked its position on the extension and if it is going to change its view. The commission may also plan to bring another proposal forward at this meeting that it will have previously shared.
The likely date for the Appeals Committee is the week commencing Monday, June 20th - just days before the official authorisation of glyphosate expires.
The committee should only take one day and either an extension will be authorised or once again no opinion will be reached. If no consensus can be reached then the college of 28 commissioners will be called upon to take a decision on the matter. They too will debate among themselves whether the commission should come out in favour or not.
There is also the possibility that the commission will not act and the authorisation would lapse. This would not mean an immediate withdrawal of products containing glyphosate - it is likely six months would be allowed for this to happen, but nonetheless re-approval could still take place in this time.
A joint letter from all of the UK's farming unions to European policy makers stressed: "It is deeply worrying that a decision that has very real consequences on millions of peoples' everyday lives is the subject of political bargaining. We urge a return to evidence-led policymaking that is insulated from political swings and based on fair scientific assessment. "Without this, we worry that doubt is unfortunately cast on the ability for the EU to deliver for farmers."
NFU Scotland President Allan Bowie said: "Given glyphosate's role in delivering safe and affordable food across the whole of the EU, the "no opinion" position will simply add to the frustration felt throughout the whole farming community with regards to the future availability of this essential product.
"With politics rather than science driving the decision-making process, it is farmers, growers and consumers that would lose out were glyphosate no to be re-authorised by the June 30 deadline."
Market round-up
Wallets Marts sold 303 prime lambs in Castle Douglas on Tuesday to a top of £96 per head and 215.6p per kg to average £81.29 and 199.6p (no change on the week), while an end-of-season show of 44 prime hoggs levelled at £49.16 and 110p.
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