Europe Delays Decision on Glyphosate

In News by LynneD

glyphosate_banEuropean Union has delayed making a decision on the use of glyphosate in member states.

Glyphosate is a contentious subject within the EU region. A recent study by the International Agency on Research on Cancer found glyphosate to be a type 2A carcinogen (probably carcinogenic to humans). Conflicting this was a peer review study by the European Food Safety Authority which found glyphosate to be safe.

Experts from 28 member countries attended a closed door meeting last week and were expected to make a decision as to whether to allow the use of glyphosate for the next 15 years. France is known to be opposed to glyphosate use while Germany has stated they will stand aside from the decision.

“Faced with such conflicting opinions on the probable carcinogenicity of glyphosate by two major scientific authorities, the European Parliament, the Commission and Member States must take responsibility to protect first and foremost the health of citizens, adopting the precautionary principle by denying a new authorization for the use of the disputed herbicide, “said the spokesman of the coalition of 32 Italian associations, Mariagrazia Mammuccini.

AIAB Appeal to MEPs: http://www.aiab.it/images/stories/Parlamentari_Europei_-_glifosato_-_04.03.16.pdf