Earlier this month we learned about a public meeting being held by the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to discuss the results of their Glyphosate Monitoring Study.

This study evaluated the exposure risks from Glyphosate use, and looked at the human health risks involved, looking at:

• -       Groundwater, pond water and potable water;
• -       Soil and sediments;
• -       Air samples; and
• -       Foodstuffs from supermarket shelves.

This report concluded that the human health risks from Glyphosate use were within safe limits, and recommended the lifting on the ban on using Glyphosate that was introduced in May 2015.

Here at Greenrock we took the opportunity to review the report and conclusions developed by the Government, and consulted the relevant literature and evidence base concerning Glyphosate.

We reached the conclusion that the study in itself was insufficient to justify lifting the ban on its use, citing concerns in particular about the need to consider Glyphosate’s impacts from a wider environmental impact rather than a purely human health impact.

Of particular concern to us was the lack of consideration about the impact on bee populations.

We released a position paper on our concerns and urged our supporters and members to attend the public meeting to voice concerns, as well as to write to MPs and the Minister to urge the ban on glyphosate to be maintained.

The public meeting was well attended (standing room only) and Greenrock were pleased by the Minister’s announcement that he will not be lifting the ban for the immediate time being.

While we welcome the decision to maintain the ban on glyphosate for the time being, Greenrock will remain vigilant – and we ask that all those concerned with the potential reintroduction to write to their MPs and the Ministry.

The Ministry will also be collecting questions concerning their study and glyphosate generally – we ask that you take advantage of this and email them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..