Brussels, 06/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - The agricultural organisations and cooperatives of the EU said on Monday 6 June that they were extremely concerned at the absence of a majority to approve (or reject) the temporary technical extension of the authorisation licence for glyphosate until the end of December 2017 (see other article).
Copa-Cogeca calls upon the member states to vote to renew the authorisation, because “without glyphosate, farmers' competitiveness would be threatened and EU food production jeopardised as no alternatives exist”, reads the press release published late afternoon on Monday. Copa-Cogeca is calling for the authorisation for this product to be extended for 15 years.
A source argues that failure to renew would have two negative effects: - it would diminish the credibility of the EU procedures and the high safety standards of the EU; - and it would also damage the EU's competitiveness vis-à-vis third exporting countries and some beneficial agricultural practices. Furthermore, there is no alternative in the EU which is available in all member states, for all sectors and uses and at a cost-effective price. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)