European farmers say glyphosate deadlock shows mistrust in EU bodies

Monday, 6 November 2017

By Sarantis Michalopoulos | EURACTIV.com

06-11-2017

EU farmers’ union Copa-Cogeca has rejected the Commission’s revised proposal for a five year re-authorisation of glyphosate, claiming that such a proposal would “undermine” credibility in the EU institutions. Instead, they suggest a full 15-year re-approval.

Copa-Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen is insisting that glyphosate should be granted a full 15-year-long reauthorisation.
[European Committee of the Regions/Flickr]

Copa and Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen insists that assessments by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) gave the green light for the weedkiller’s re-authorisation.

“There should be no question but to re-authorise its use for the full 15 years. Important decisions like this should not be based on emotion or politics. If it’s not renewed for the full term, all credibility in the EU institutions and decision-makers will be lost,” Pesonen warned.

 ______________________

British farmers’ boss: I hope outside the EU, decisions will be science-based

The leader of Britain’s farming union, Meurig Raymond, hopes that the agriculture-related decisions made in London after his country leaves the EU will be more science-based and less emotional than is currently the case in Europe.

______________________

Food safety agencies in 28 member states agree with EFSA and ECHA assessments, EU sources claim. Based on these assessments, the Commission is pushing for the re-authorisation of glyphosate and, in an effort to reach the largest possible majority, it proposed a five year re-approval.

But critics point to the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (IARC) classification of glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic”, with France among the countries that oppose the re-authorisation of the weedkiller.

(...)