Use of Glyphosate

“This Assembly notes:

• the growing body of scientific evidence showing a link between glyphosate exposure and an increased risk of cancer;
• the spraying of glyphosate in London is causing concern among residents and elected representatives about its potential harmful effects on children, animals and wildlife on our streets, housing estates and parks; 
• the contracting staff who carry out this work need to be protected from harm;
• The Mayor’s commitment in the Environment Strategy to “reduce the use of pesticides and peat-based products, such as compost;
• the work of Transport for London (TfL) with suppliers and contractors to explore safer alternatives such as hot foam, for essential vegetation management and weed control; the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham was the first council in London to cease the use of glyphosate, to support biodiversity and protect habitat against any long-term chemical effect;
• other London Boroughs such as Hackney and Croydon are trialling             non-chemical weed removal and exploring alternatives; and 
• in June 2019 the German state-owned rail operator Deutsche Bahn announced it would stop using glyphosate on its tracks and is looking for substitutes to replace the widely used glyphosate herbicide.

In light of the public and occupational health concerns about glyphosate exposure and the need to protect habitat and biodiversity we call on the Mayor of London to:

• Bring forward an action plan and timetable for a major reduction, to zero over time, in the spraying of glyphosate on GLA land and the TfL estate, prioritising ensuring that tracksides are cleared using chemical methods to guarantee safety; and
• call on London boroughs to cease the spraying of glyphosate in all council operations as soon as possible.

To manage this process, we ask the Mayor of London support a London Councils working group for London borough representatives, specialists and other key land managers in London to work towards the removal of this and any other harmful herbicides.

Where there are problems with invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed and where there is a duty to eradicate, then glyphosate may be used until an acceptable non-chemical alternative becomes available.  But its use should be limited to stem injection rather than spraying.”