Farmers in France that declare they no longer use glyphosate will be granted temporary tax credits.
The French Ministry for Agriculture said recently that the creation of value around glyphosate-free agriculture is integral to sustainability and requires concrete measures.
For this reason, French senators have adopted an amendment allowing the introduction of a temporary tax credit of €2,500 to support agricultural enterprises that declare in 2021 and/or 2022 that they no longer use phytopharmaceuticals containing the active substance glyphosate.
In addition, there will be the introduction of tax credits for organic farming and farming with high environmental value.
The ministry said that this credit targets the sectors most economically impacted by their consumption of glyphosate, which is the case in particular for permanent crops (viticulture, arboriculture) and large crops.
In addition to this tax credit, the state will invest an additional €80 million for the conversion of agricultural equipment.
Julien Denormandie, German Minister of Agriculture and Food, said: “The creation of this tax credit and the release of an additional €80 million for the conversion of agro-equipment [is] the result of a strong government’s desire to support farmers.
“Any transition has a cost and must therefore be financed.”
Sale, distribution and use of Roundup product banned in France
In 2019, French authorities banned the sale, distribution and use of a Roundup product following a court decision.
The French agency for food, environmental and occupational health and safety, ANSES, explained that the decision to cancel the marketing authorisation of Roundup Pro 360 had been taken by the Lyon Administrative Court.
“ANSES has taken note of the decision of the Administrative Court of Lyon on the cancellation of the marketing authorization for Roundup Pro 360 and will examine it carefully.
As the decision has immediate effect, the marketing authorisation for Roundup Pro 360 is cancelled. As a result, the sale, distribution and use of Roundup Pro 360 are prohibited from this day.
In a follow-up statement on social media, ANSES stressed that the ban on the sale and use of the product was effective immediately.
French authorities had set a plan to ban the use of glyphosate in agricultural practices by the end of this year.
