Mauritius Adopts Guidelines for Responsible Herbicide Utilize, Cites Health and Environmental Concerns

On Friday, March 6, 2026, the Council of Ministers of Mauritius approved best practice guidelines for roadside weed management using herbicides. These guidelines aim to promote responsible vegetation control while protecting public health, agricultural activities, and the environment, amid growing concerns about the impact of pesticides.

Framework for Safe Herbicide Application

The latest guidelines establish a comprehensive framework for the safe and effective use of herbicides by authorities and contractors involved in road maintenance. They provide detailed recommendations covering planning, application procedures, environmental protection measures, and monitoring mechanisms. The initiative comes as the nation grapples with documented harmful consequences of pesticide use.

Pesticide Exposure and Health Risks

Minister for the Environment, Joanna Bérenger, highlighted the well-documented health risks associated with pesticide exposure. Studies have linked pesticide exposure to diseases including cancer, neurological disorders, and reproductive system issues. She noted a fivefold increase in pesticide importation into Mauritius since 1982, coinciding with a more than doubling of cancer cases detected between 2001 and 2023. Simultaneously, the yield of food crops is decreasing due to deteriorating soil fertility.

Moving Towards Sustainable Weed Management

Bérenger emphasized the necessitate to shift away from reliance on potentially harmful chemicals. An interministerial committee, including representatives from the Environment Laboratory, the Mauritius Sugarcane Industry Research Institute, the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, the Road Development Authority, and municipalities, developed the guidelines. While acknowledging that manual weeding is the best solution, the guidelines recognize the need for alternative solutions when dealing with large areas and limited resources. Ecological products are being considered as viable alternatives.

Environmental Protection Measures

A key goal of the guidelines is to mitigate potential environmental risks. Specific attention is paid to preventing contamination of water resources, degradation of soil quality, and the emergence of herbicide-resistant weeds. The guidelines advocate for integrated weed management approaches, gradually incorporating environmentally friendly alternatives like bio-herbicides, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas.

Buffer Zones for Protection

To protect surrounding ecosystems and agricultural lands, the guidelines recommend establishing buffer zones where herbicides should not be applied:

• Bodies of water (rivers and canals): A buffer zone of at least 30 meters must be maintained, consistent with the provisions of the Rivers and Canals Act.
• Agricultural areas: An untreated buffer zone of at least 10 meters must be maintained to prevent drift or runoff from affecting crops and soils.

Glyphosate Concerns and Sustainable Agriculture

Recent scientific analysis from Tufts University suggests that glyphosate-based herbicides are incompatible with the goals of sustainable agriculture. Glyphosate, the most widely used pesticide active ingredient globally, is found in many herbicide formulations, including Roundup. Studies indicate that glyphosate can cause damage to human health, wildlife, and ecosystems, with its toxicity having doubled since 2004. A study in Martinique showed an average 21% reduction in biodiversity in banana plots frequently treated with glyphosate.

Bio-Herbicides: An Ecological Alternative

Bio-herbicides, derived from natural sources, offer an ecological alternative to chemical herbicides. Attracting increasing interest since the 1980s, they rapidly degrade in the environment and exhibit low toxicity. Produced from plants or microorganisms, they disrupt weed biological processes, slowing growth. Effective plant extracts, such as mustard seed meal, and microbial metabolites have been identified as potent bioherbicide agents.

The benefits of bio-herbicides include reduced environmental pollution, decreased soil and water contamination, and promotion of sustainable agriculture by lessening dependence on synthetic chemicals, contributing to ecological balance.

Implementation and Collaboration

Successful implementation of these guidelines requires close collaboration between all involved parties. Bérenger acknowledged the biggest challenge is changing established habits and expressed confidence in the collaboration of all stakeholders. Mauri-Facilities has already ceased using herbicides, demonstrating a commitment to the new guidelines.