Monsanto may be in trouble in Europe. After months of controversy over disparaging studies concerning Round Up’s main ingredient, glyphosate, the Committee on Environment, Food Safety & Public Health (ENVI) has formally objected to the re-authorization by the European Commission of the herbicide.
Voting to uphold this objection were 36 members, while 6 members voted against it and 18 did not vote.
ENVI stated:
“So long as serious concerns remain about the carcinogenicity and endocrine disruptive properties of the herbicide glyphosate, which is used in hundreds of farm, forestry, urban and garden applications, the EU Commission should not renew its authorization. Instead, it should commission an independent review and disclose all the scientific evidence that the s (EFSA) used to assess glyphosate.”
Members also called the herbicide’s re-authorization “irresponsible and unacceptable.”
MEP Anja Hazekamp criticized the European Commission for even considering giving Round Up the green light in Europe:
“With this decision the European Commission fails to protect the health of humans, animals and the environment. Member states and more than 1 million citizens have already expressed their concerns over the re-authorisation. We will use all possible means to prevent the European Commission from contaminating our environment for another 15 years.”
Related Read:
Landmark Report: Glyphosate is Most Heavily Used Herbicide in History
Joining Hazekamp in voicing concern was German GUE/NGL MEP Stefan Eck:
“Glyphosate definitely causes major health risks to animals. According to IARC, [the World Health Organisation agency specialized in cancer which assessed all existing scientific studies on glyphosate,] there is enough scientific evidence to define this herbicide as carcinogenic in animals.
Humans are also exposed to major health risks by the widespread use of glyphosate. In this case, the precautionary principle should be fully respected!”
Now if US regulators would similarly see the light.
Source:
Sustainable Pulse