EU Trade Deal May Push UK to Ban Pre‑Harvest Glyphosate on Cereals

Context The UK currently allows glyphosate to be sprayed on wheat, oats and other cereal crops shortly before harvest to dry them out and ease processing. The European Union banned this pre‑harvest use in 2023 over concerns about the chemical’s impact on health and the environment. Ongoing negotiations for a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement aim to make UK‑EU trade smoother, and environmental groups argue the deal is a chance to adopt the EU’s restriction.

Key Facts In 2024, monitoring programmes detected glyphosate in 28% of UK bread samples. Between 2016 and 2023, residue testing found the chemical in 41% of UK cereal crops. These figures come from routine surveillance, not from randomised controlled trials or cohort studies, so they show correlation rather than proven causation of health effects. An open letter from the Soil Association, Nature Friendly Farming Network, Greenpeace and others told Defra that phasing out pre‑harvest glyphosate would ease public‑health worries, reduce environmental risks and improve trade prospects with Europe.

What It Means If the UK adopts the EU’s ban, farmers would need alternative methods to dry crops before harvest, potentially changing costs and practices. For consumers, the shift could lower dietary exposure to glyphosate, though the current levels detected in bread are below legal limits. The change would also align UK pesticide standards with those of its largest trading partner, reducing the risk of future trade disputes.

Watch for Defra’s response to the EU SPS talks and any updates to the UK’s glyphosate licence, which is set for renewal in November.