“A debate about this agent has been going on in the EU for ten years,” Benedek Jávor told an online press briefing on Tuesday, noting that Hungary insisted on using glyphosate even though member states, green groups and EU institutions wanted it banned.

“It’s all the more baffling given that glyphosate is used for treating GMO crops which are banned under Hungary’s constitution,” he said.

As Brussels has referred the authorisation for the use of the herbicide to member states, Párbeszéd calls on the government to seek alternative agents and explore ways to phase out glyphosate, he added.

Jávor insisted that the herbicide damaged soil and pollinators and solely benefited its producers, Monsanto and Bayer.

The government, he added, should put the health of Hungarians and the country’s environment ahead of the interests of those multinationals.