The country on 1 January 2021 became the first EU member to ban glyphosate substances, despite the agriculture ministry in 2018 approving its use until the end of 2023. The plant protection product is regarded as toxic to life as well as being carcinogenic. Retailers and farmers had until the end of 2021 to phase it.

The administrative court on 15 July agreed with Bayer to say that the state’s decision to ban glyphosate was not well-founded as it didn’t fall under the country’s jurisdiction to implement such a ban. The EU is currently still debating the matter.

Glyphosate is approved in the EU until 15 December 2022 and a decision of whether its use will continue be allowed is pending.

In May 2022, the European Chemical Agency (Echa) agreed that glyphosate should remain classified as causing severe eye damage and being toxic to aquatic life but said its listing as being carcinogenic wasn’t justified. However, one month later, the Health and Environment Alliance published a report that showed that the product could potentially cause cancer.

In Luxembourg, glyphosate products--which are used as herbicides in agriculture--will remain forbidden, the government confirmed to national radio station 100,7, adding that it would file an appeal against the administrative court’s decision.