AN organic farmer from North Pembrokeshire has started a local campaign to have a widely-used weed killer removed from supermarket shelves.

Gerald Miles, 69, of Caerhys farm, near Abereiddy, made an Agri-Activism Cymru demonstration against products containing the chemical glyphosate last Wednesday (September 6) at supermarkets in Haverfordwest.

He visited Tesco, Wilko, Poundland, and Poundstretcher in the town and requested managers stop selling products containing the chemical, including the world’s most widely-used weed killer RoundUp.

“I am fully aware that the managers don’t have the power to do anything themselves, but they are the link to the headquarters of the supermarkets and they can pass it on,” he said.

Mr Miles said his demonstration was to raise awareness locally about glyphosate, and has also sent a letter to the supermarkets’ headquarters to advocate banning it.

A 2015 report by the World Health Organisation stated glyphosate could probably cause cancer if plants treated with it were eaten by humans, but the research was criticised for leaving out crucial information to the contrary, and other studies have not reached the same result.

RoundUp is popular with gardeners and farmers, and glyphosate’s license for use in the EU is up for renewal in October subject to discussion by the European Commission.

Peter Howells, the NFU Cymru’s County Advisor for Pembrokeshire said the union supported the re-licencing of the chemical for use on farms.

He said: “I am in no way an expert, but glyphosate is an important tool for farmers.

“There is dubious research to stop its re-authorisation at the moment, and we expect the decision made on the issue by the European Commission to be based on evidence, not emotion or rhetoric.”

Mr Miles started farming organically 20 years ago, but is sympathetic to why farmers use Glyphosate.

He said: “As a farmer you are up against a tough life trying to maintain a living and you use the tools which are easiest for you to use.

“When I turned organic it was difficult for me consciously to know that possibly weeds would take over my farm but really it is a matter of thinking of a way of re-managing the way you farm.”

A spokesperson for Wilko confirmed Agri-Activism Cymru demonstrators visited their Haverfordwest store alongside other supermarkets in the area, and advised they contact Wilko head office directly.

They said: “Wilko confirms that a letter was received on September 6 and it will be responded to initially within 48 hours.

“We can confirm that while no Wilko own brand products contain glyphosate, we do stock a limited number of branded products containing this ingredient including Roundup and other household names.

“Wilko follows the advice of the European Chemicals Agency on the sale of glyphosate within products which is currently approved for use.”

A spokesman for Tesco said: “A small group of people held a protest at our Haverfordwest Extra store. They left a letter with store colleagues, to which we will respond in due course.”

A spokesman for Poundland said: “We thank them for popping in and can confirm we only sell branded products which are approved for sale.”