The Valencian Farmers Association (AVA-ASAJA) and the Union of Small Growers (UPA-PV) have called on the European Union to extend the legal use of glyphosate, the most used herbicide in the world, for another 15 years. 

In a release, the groups said it was understood the Standing Committe on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF) was planning on only allowing the herbicide's use for another 10 years.

In a petition to the committee, the groups said the maximum time allowed under current legislation was 15 years for the transition.

The groups highlighted the main scientific organizations of the EU, including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Chemical Agency (ECHA), have corroborated reports that glyphosate meets all safety and suitability criteria that are mandatory in these cases, and therefore encouraged the committee to renew its use for a 15-year period.

"Also, scientific entities in such accredited countries as the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand have equally dismissed the supposed danger of this herbicide and that's why the agricultural sector calls on community authorities to base [decisions] on science in the moment of making an announcement," the groups said in the release.

They also described the campaigns against glyphosate from environmental groups as "virulent" with "falsity and inconsistency".

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