Government of the Republic of Slovenia is supporting the ban on glyphosate use on all non-agricultural land, whilst glyphosate use for agricultural production should be restricted to the greatest extent. Glyphosate use should only be authorised in agriculture, where presently no alternative methods exist. Commission proposal gives a possibility that MSs may autonomously regulate glyphosate use in their respective domains, which Slovenia is de facto going to implement. Slovenia supported the Commission proposal as it constitutes a step towards the position of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia.

At its 74th meeting of 4 October 2023, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted a Position on the decision-making process concerning the active substance glyphosate, and on the extension of transitional period of glyphosate use in agriculture. In its Position, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia advocates a ban on glyphosate use, where the agricultural sector should be granted an appropriate period for adaptation. The purport of the Position is that the sale and use of glyphosate should be restricted to the greatest extent, and its use should only be authorised in agriculture, where presently no alternative methods exist.

All the procedures implemented at EU level, as well as expert opinions of different institutions, an assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA; risk assessment of active substance  glyphosate), an assessment by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA; assessment of classification of glyphosate), have shown that glyphosate complies with the legislative requirements for placing on the market of Plant Protection Products (PPPs) and, as such, it has not been classified as a carcinogenic substance. From the professional point of view, glyphosate fulfils the conditions for authorisation as a substance that may be used within the European Union.

Experts of the Slovenian National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) agree with conclusions of professional institutions ECHA and EFSA, and they published their own opinion. 

Notwithstanding the above, Slovenia has already instituted restrictions and prohibitions of use of glyphosate, except in agriculture, where presently no alternative methods exist to adequately substitute the use of glyphosate, and thus, such a decision is reasonable. In preparation is a proposal to amend the National Action Plan to minimise the use of PPPs, and an amendment Act on PPPs that proposes additional restrictions on PPP-accessibility.

Otherwise, the use of herbicides, including glyphosate, is authorised in agriculture only. Derogation is envisaged only for certain active substances, glyphosate excluded, which are authorised for use on land adjacent to railway tracks, on highway or motorway separations, and up to 1.5 metre width on highway or motorway hard shoulders. On all other non-agricultural land, the use of herbicides is not authorised, not even on private non-agricultural land.

It needs to be pointed out in this context that in Slovenia Plant Protection Products (PPPs) may be purchased by persons only, who had passed the relevant education and training (professional users). Additionally, Slovenia is one of the countries with the most severe restrictions as to purchasing and use of PPPs.