The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has restricted the use of glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, citing health hazards for humans and animals.

What is Glyphosate?

• Glyphosate is an herbicide. It is applied to the leaves of plants to kill both broadleaf plants and grasses.
• The sodium salt form of glyphosate is used to regulate plant growth and ripen specific crops.
• Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicide.
• In India, glyphosate has been approved for use only in tea plantations and non-plantation areas accompanying the tea crop.
• Use of the substance anywhere else is illegal.

How does glyphosate work?

• Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide, meaning it will kill most plants.
• It prevents the plants from making certain proteins that are needed for plant growth.
• Glyphosate stops a specific enzyme pathway, the shikimic acid
• The shikimic acid pathway is necessary for plants and some microorganisms.

What is the recent ban?

• Only authorized Pest Control Operators are allowed to use it.
• Earlier, state governments of Maharashtra, Telangana, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh have tried similar steps but failed.
• The ban notification was based on a 2019 report by the Government of Kerala on prohibiting the distribution, sale and use of glyphosate and its derivatives.

Is it banned elsewhere?

• Some 35 countries have banned or restricted the use of glyphosate.
• These include Sri Lanka, Netherlands, France, Colombia, Canada, Israel and Argentina.

Hazards of Glyphosate

• Health impacts of glyphosate range from cancer, and reproductive and developmental toxicity to neurotoxicity and immune toxicity.
• Symptoms include irritation, swelling, burning of the skin, oral and nasal discomfort, unpleasant taste and blurred vision.

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