COCERAL, a European association which represents the trade in cereals, rice, feedstuffs, oilseeds, olive oil, oils and fats and agrosupply, was expecting a positive outcome for a product deemed safe by EFSA.
COCERAL relies on the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) scientific findings, including but not limited to glyphosate herbicide. EFSA has not classified glyphosate as threatening to human health overall, including its residues, the presence of which does not show evidence of posing chronic or acute risks for the consumers.
“Considering the importance of the active substance for E.U. farmers, we urge the E.U. decision-makers to take responsibility and to grant the renewal of glyphosate authorization without any further delay,” said Teresa Babuscio, COCERAL secretary general. “Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world. Failure to reauthorize it would seriously jeopardize the supply of grains and oilseeds to the E.U. market, particularly vegetable protein sources for the poultry sector.”
Plant protection products (PPPs) are essential to secure sustainable yields and quality of agricultural production in Europe, COCERAL said. PPPs are essential for farmers to manage the impact of naturally occurring fungicidal contaminants like mycotoxins, as well as to control adverse effects of insects or undesirable weeds, which seriously risk reducing agricultural output or render produce unsaleable, thus reducing Europe’s ability to provide sustainable supply of wholesome cereals, oilseeds and arable crops.
