2023-11-21 18:41:18
Published21. November 2023, 7:41 p.m.
European Union: Glyphosate authorized until 2033: NGOs announce taking legal action
The EU’s decision – which must be formally adopted within 2 weeks – to renew the authorization of the controversial pesticide has sparked an outcry.
Glyphosate, which is found in particular in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide, is accused of being carcinogenic.
REUTERS
Environmental NGOs announced on Tuesday their intention to take legal action in European courts to challenge Brussels’ decision to renew the authorization of glyphosate in the EU for ten years. The decision is expected to be formally adopted over the next two weeks, before the current authorization expires on December 15.
The Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe association is preparing to challenge this decision, as soon as it comes into force, before the Court of Justice of the EU, in association with four NGOs (Future Generations, PAN Germany, PAN Pays -Bas and Global 2000).
The decision would not comply with EU law
“This reapproval directly contradicts the conclusions of many independent scientists on the effects of glyphosate (…) It contravenes European legislation on pesticides, which gives priority to health and the protection of biodiversity,” argued the director executive of PAN Europe, Martin Dermine.
Secret Toxique, a coalition of 80 associations committed once morest pesticides deemed dangerous for the environment, also announced that it wanted to submit an appeal for annulment to the EU courts, in a separate procedure.
WHO and EFSA contradict each other on the dangerousness of glyphosate
Glyphosate, the active substance in several very common herbicides, was classified in 2015 as a “probable carcinogen” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization – a conclusion confirmed in 2021 in France by the National Institute health and medical research.
Conversely, in July the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said it had not identified any “critical areas of concern” in humans, animals and the environment that would prevent authorization of the herbicide, while recognizing a lack of data.
Relying on case law, PAN Europe criticizes European regulators for not “having followed their guidelines” in examining the potential carcinogenic nature of glyphosate by ignoring “numerous studies” on its toxicity, and the Commission for “ not having respected the precautionary principle”.
The EU accused of having decided without any sufficient study
Above all, “the legislation requires that a representative formulation (editor’s note: a product containing glyphosate combined with other components) be tested to determine its long-term toxicity”, but Brussels decided “without any sufficient study” in the file and while an unsuccessful study reports risks for this same formulation, indicates Martin Dermine.
(AFP)
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