Chancellor Angela Merkel’s failure to secure a governing coalition this week means the German position on glyphosate remains unknown ahead of next week’s vote on the re-authorisation of the herbicide active ingredient. Countries representing more than 65% of the EU’s population must agree for Monsanto’s Roundup and other glyphosate-based products to remain on the shelves past 15 December. Germany has abstained in recent votes and two other population heavyweights, France and Italy, are opposing the European Commission’s proposal for a five-year renewal, favouring three years only.

The Commission is appealing member states’ previous failure to reach a qualified majority before a higher-level committee next Monday, but its proposal remains for a five-year re-authorisation and there has been no sign so far that any country’s position has changed.

Without a qualified majority next week, the Commission may step in and impose a short-term extension, or let the current authorisation lapse on 15 December, making glyphosate-based weedkillers illegal across the EU.