The EU has expanded its usage area controversial glyphosate pesticide, The substance, which is widely available in Spain, has sparked alarm among environmental experts and activists who recall the potential harm it could cause to health and the environment.
The Pesticide Action Network (PAN Europe) has submitted a proposal to the European Commission (EC): request for internal review of this decision Due to the lack of relevant studies during the evaluation process for the renewal of the glyphosate use permit.
“The complaint submitted by PAN Europe, British company ClientEarth, French Génerations Futures, Austrian Global 2000, PAN Germany and PAN Netherlands,”High cancer risk, an alarming mortality rate among insects, and significant effects on brain function and genetics”.
Under current regulations, requesting an internal review is the first step these organizations can take to challenge European Union (EU) decisions that allegedly violate environmental laws.
The Commission now has up to 22 weeks to respond to the review request, and if organizations consider the response to be unsatisfactory, they can challenge the response to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
Renewal of glyphosate authorization
Community Manager Agreed to renew in November leave last year Efe stated that he demanded that glyphosate, the controversial herbicide, be used for ten years after there was no consensus on banning it among European Union countries.
The mentioned NGOs are the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). They threw out the independent studies presented on the grounds that they “failed to comply with regulatory guidelines” but say they were “consistent with other, more recent evidence”.
“It is unacceptable that EFSA and ECHA, organizations that are supposed to have high-level professionals, continue to maintain this position vis-à-vis independent scientific studies,” PAN Europe director Martin Dermine told the media. said.
The organizations argue that 95 percent of toxicity studies and 93 percent of published ecotoxicology reports were not taken into account in the Commission’s assessment.
New scientific findings: it is carcinogenic
NGOs state that there are new scientific findings in their proposals. Confirming that glyphosate is carcinogenic and has a high degree of genotoxicity, A risk revealed by non-industrial and independent studies that the EU has not taken into account.
They also argue that neurotoxicity research used by societal agencies is based solely on acute or short-term toxicity in adults and is not appropriate for assessing this risk, for example, in the case of maternal exposure.
The associations gave the following details in their petition: Glyphosate also affects the microbiome of humans, birds, bees, and other species.and they assure that “not a single long-term toxicity study in mammals” has been considered for its extension.
“Our hope is not just to win our case in court. We hope that even if the Commission does not withdraw the glyphosate authorization, it will start thinking about this authorization process,” the lawyer and head of the ClientEarth Office said. Brussels, Anaïs Berthier.
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