According to Wort.lu, agriculture minister Fernand Etgen said he was against the European Commission proposal to extend the 10-year licence.

He added that there were modern alternatives to using strong chemicals on fields, and that the critical assessments by the World Health Organisation and independent experts advise caution.

Two years ago, the WHO warned that the substance might cause cancer.

Claude Turmes, Luxembourg’s Green MEP, explained that the continued use of the herbicide would pollute springs, destroy nature and people would get sick.

The EU parliament will debate the issue on Tuesday 24 October. The vote in the European Council on banning the substance is scheduled for Wednesday 25 October.