In a move which will be cheered by many, but is sure to be controversial, EU farming chief Phil Hogan has said he would like to re-authorise glyphosate for ‘at least the next 10 years’.
Mr Hogan gave his first clue about the European Commission’s line of thinking on the issue this week at the European Economic and Social Committee, Agra Europe confirmed.
He said he wanted glyphosate to have a lengthy re-approval period to ‘give legal certainty to the sector’.
The news follows moves by MEPs to challenge the ruling of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) that glyphosate is non-carcinogenic by suggesting the research used to come to the conclusion was influenced by the chemical’s manufacturer, Monsanto.
NFU vice president Guy Smith said: “We are delighted to hear the Commissioner back sound science and recognise the importance of glyphosate to Europe’s farmers, but we are aware we could have a repeat of the political shenanigans of June 2016. We cannot take anything for granted.”