Glyphosate: the European Commission renews the authorization of the herbicide for 10 years

On Thursday, November 16, the European Commission renewed the authorization of glyphosate for 10 years. This is the most used herbicide. Olivier Coupery, a farmer from Yvelines, is delighted. According to him, there is no credible alternative to glyphosate today. To deliver its verdict, the Commission relies on a report from the European Food Safety Agency. He believes that the level of risk presented by glyphosate does not justify a ban.

A probable carcinogen, according to the WHO

Opponents point out for their part that the herbicide has been classified as a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO), and that several scientific studies prove its dangerousness for humans and biodiversity. Despite the Commission’s decision, each Member State will be able to choose to restrict the use of glyphosate.

In France, Emmanuel Macron had promised a total ban, but the government’s position is now more nuanced. “Wherever we can reduce uses, we must do so“, indicated Marc FesneauMinister of Agriculture, considering however that “we cannot be in a regime which is permanently prohibited without any solution”.