Member States are preparing to vote on the ten-year renewal of the authorization of glyphosate in the EU, while civil society denounces the scientific frauds of Bayer - Monsanto to the Vienna Prosecutor's Office for having hidden studies on the neurotoxicity of the poisonous herbicide.
1) Glyphosate, the ten-year renewal proposal in the EU
The European Commission – after having received a Solomonic opinion from EFSA, which does not recognize 'substantial risks' except for noting the lack of data on essential elements to confirm their absence (1) – it finally proposed the renewal of the authorization for the use of glyphosate in the EU for another 10 years. (2) With all due respect to the precautionary principle and the empty promises, in the 'Farm to Fork' strategy, of a drastic reduction in the use of toxic chemicals in agriculture.
Member States – at the meeting of ministerial delegates at the SCoPAFF (Standing Committee for Plants, Animals, Food and Feed), on 22 September 2023 – they in turn voted in favor of the ten-year renewal of the use of glyphosate. We therefore await the definitive green light from the Council on 12 October 2023. A reconfirmation, where ever in doubt, of the excessive power of the four corporations that control the global market of pesticides and seeds (Big 4). (3)
2) The analysis of the toxicologist Alberto Mantovani
Alberto Mantovani – internationally renowned Italian toxicologist, research director at ISS (Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy) as well as member of the EFSA panel dedicated to feed and pesticides for 15 years – analyzes the assessment of the 'European Food Safety Authority' on 'glyphosate', and its logical consequences:
- 'EFSA highlights a risk for birds and mammals in most exposure scenarios, as well as
- significant (and surprising) #datagaps regarding the toxicology (neurotoxicity of development), exposure to #residues and ecotoxicology (toxicity to aquatic plants).
True, there are no critical issues that preclude reauthorization. However, based on EFSA's assessment, a precautionary reduction in human and ecosystem exposure is warranted.
Therefore, the coherent and reasonable conclusion on risk management should consider significant restrictions of use regarding the types of crops that can be treated and/or the duration of treatment and/or doses of use' (Alberto Mantovani). (4)
3) Scientific fraud and hidden studies
Civil society – through the European associations PAN (Pesticide Action Network), in which ISDE participates, and Global 2000 – has meanwhile presented a complaint against Bayer – Monsanto to the Vienna Prosecutor's Office. In addition to the various scientific frauds also reported on this site, the Corporation continues to hide studies demonstrating the harmful effects of glyphosate when requesting renewals of its authorizations (5,6,7). The authorities responsible for risk assessment, ECHA in particular, do not appear to have paid attention to various adverse evidence (8,9).
'European legislation establishes that pesticide manufacturers must report on all studies on the potentially harmful effects of active substances, in this case glyphosate (…), including those commissioned by them and those present in the scientific literature. Bayer's current authorization application does not take into account the majority of publications indicating that glyphosate has harmful effects on the nervous system (neurotoxicity)' (PAN Europe).
4) Correlations between glyphosate and autism
European associations they denounce, in particular, the concealment of two scientific studies:
- an epidemiological study showing that children whose mothers were exposed to glyphosate during pregnancy are more likely to be affected by the autism spectrum,
- a study commissioned by Syngenta (which is part of the consortium calling for the re-authorisation of glyphosate) on the neurotoxic effects of the substance.
The second study cited, conducted in Sweden, shows 'significant behavioral disturbances in young mice whose mothers were exposed to glyphosate during pregnancy at a dose that is currently considered safe by EU authorities'. (10)
Dario Dongo
Footnotes
(1) Dario Dongo, Alessandra Mei. EFSA glosses over the safety risks of glyphosate. 'Stop Glyphosate'! GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 22.7.23
(2) European Commission. Draft Implementing Regulation on renewing the approval of the active substance glyphosate in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 https://tinyurl.com/ytbjcywh
(3) Dario Dongo. Seeds, the 4 masters of the world. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 15.1.19
(4) Dario Dongo. Pesticides and microbiome, interview with Prof. Alberto Mantovani. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 22.5.19
(5) Dario Dongo, Fabrizio Adorni. Glyphosate, the false studies used by Bayer for the renewal of the authorization. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 8.12.19
(6) Dario Dongo. Glyphosate and GMO soy, the big scam. Scientific study. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade).
(7) Dario Dongo. How the agrochemical industry hides the toxicity of pesticides. New studies. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade).
(8) Peter Clausing, Siegfried Knasmueller, Christopher J. Portier (2023). Glyphosate and
Oxidative Stress: ECHA's superficial approach neglects existing hazards. https://zenodo.org/record/8270189 Zenodo (open access)
(9) Dario Dongo. Glyphosate, the report from Echa, the European Chemical Agency, overlooks the falsity of the data produced by Monsanto. The Corporation is now on trial in the US. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade).
(10) Pesticides Action Network Europe. Glyphosate in the EU up to 2034?
Danger to health and environment and violation of citizens will. https://tinyurl.com/5ycvak8m Press releases. 20.9.23
(11) For more information, https://www.ilcambiamento.it/articoli/isde-medici-per-l-ambiente-glifosato-presentato-esposto-contro-la-bayer
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
