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Several international environmental organisations have announced that they will take legal action against the re-approval of glyphosate before the European Court of Justice (ECJ). These include the Pesticide Action Network PAN Europe, Global 2000 and other PAN Europe member organisations. The re-authorisation is in direct contradiction to the findings of many independent scientists who have researched the effects of glyphosate. "It goes against the will of the vast majority of Europeans and ignores the urgent need and political commitment to reduce pesticide use. Above all, however, it violates the EU Pesticides Regulation, which prioritises the protection of health and biodiversity over economic interests. Our objection to the authorisation of glyphosate is based on compelling legal and scientific criteria," the international organisations explain in a joint press release.
With the renewed authorisation for a period of ten years, the European Commission is showing that it is on the side of the agricultural industry. "The scientific community is aware of the dangers of this pesticide active ingredient: Glyphosate must be banned, as required by EU law. Recent judgements by the European Court of Justice confirm that human health and the environment must take precedence and that the precautionary principle is the basis of pesticide legislation. The European Commission has done exactly the opposite," says Martin Dermine from PAN Europe.
The French collective "Secrets Toxiques" also considers the renewal of the herbicide to be unlawful and will be filing a lawsuit. "As part of the authorisation of active substances at European level, it must be demonstrated that at least one formulation of the molecule in question has no harmful effects on humans and the environment in the short and long term under normal conditions of use," criticises Andy Battentier, the head of the campaign. This is where the collective comes in. Their studies on the evaluation of glyphosate show that there is nothing about reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity or traces of endocrine disruptors.
"The widespread use of glyphosate can have devastating effects on the environment: Glyphosate can harm aquatic and terrestrial species, threaten ecosystems and biodiversity, and its residues and degradation product AMPA contaminate water sources across Europe. But despite hundreds of recent scientific studies pointing to environmental damage, the EU authorities have apparently ignored this evidence and wrongly concluded that glyphosate is safe," emphasises Angeliki Lysimachou, Head of Science and Policy at PAN Europe.
The organisations now have two months to file the complaint.
(ru / Vitisphere, press release)