EU countries have opposed the proposed limited extension for the use of glyphosate and are threatening the withdrawal from stores of Monsanto's Roundup and other herbicides if a final decision is not reached by the end of the month.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
EU countries opposed the limited extension proposal for the use of glyphosate and threaten the withdrawal of Monsanto's Roundup and other herbicides from stores if a final decision is not reached by the end of the month.
The European Commission initially proposed to renew the license for the sale of glyphosate-based herbicides for the next 15 years, but without obtaining the desired approval. He then put a extension of the authorization from 12 to 18 months to have time for a new scientific study on glyphosate conducted by the European Chemicals Agency ECHA, in the hope of allaying the health concerns raised by governments and citizens.
The new proposal though it failed to obtain the qualified majority necessary to adopt it. The European Commission will soon have to re-discuss the issue. Among the EU countries, 7 abstained, 20 supported the proposal and only one - Malta - voted against. In any case, the extension of the authorization of glyphosate from 12 to 18 months was not approved.
Read also: GLYPHOSATE: NO STOP TO THE PESTICIDE. EU DOES NOT DECIDE ON RENEWAL
Meantime Monsanto continues to defend the Roundup and of course he would like the European Commission to be able to renew the authorization of glyphosate for the next 15 years. The multinational also could appeal if Europe has not made a decision by 30 June.
If the EU were to stop sales of Roundup glyphosate and herbicide, Monsanto could face a reduction in earnings of up to $ 100 million. Furthermore, the deregistration in Europe could encourage other countries to ban glyphosate.
Citizens' groups and environmental associations have asked the EU loud and clear to ban glyphosate due to the lack of scientific certainty about its safety.
In March 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as an agent probably carcinogenic to humans, regardless of the level of exposure. More recently, a research group made up of FAO and WHO experts stated that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a health risk to people exposed to this substance through food, in line with the opinion expressed by EFSA. Given the conflicting assessments, there are still many doubts about the safety of glyphosate for our health.
The European Commission will discuss this week on how to react to the result of the last vote on glyphosate. We will therefore have to wait to understand if the European Commission will in any case want to try to impose a short extension of the authorization or if the EU countries will make their voices heard for a total ban. We are waiting for a few more weeks, given that the current authorization will expire on June 30th.
Sign here the petition to say stop on glyphosate before it's too late.
Marta Albè
