Brussels, 21/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - The Pesticide Action Europe (PAN Europe) organisation has described the arguments put forward by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) to justify its opinion on glyphosate, according to Professor Portier, as “arbitrary” (see EUROPE 11467).
PAN Europe and PAN Germany consider that the EFSA director is attempting to justify wrong statistical methods by using spurious arguments to demonstrate that the carcinogenic effects observed in the studies on mice are non-existent. In a joint press release, toxicologist, Peter Clausing, from PAN Germany stated that EFSA is attempting “to whitewash this pesticide by using arbitrary arguments”.
The two organisations assert that “The approach to the statistical evaluation of mouse studies is fundamental for the assessment of the carcinogenic hazard of glyphosate. Using the statistical methods recommended by the OECD, all 5 mouse studies exhibit significant carcinogenic effects”. PAN Germany and PAN Europe say that “the EFSA needs to apply the most recent recommendations by the OECD, instead of hiding behind decades old study plans”. They are hoping that the meeting between Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, Professor Portier and other scientists, planned for Friday 22 January, will enable the Commission to take the arguments of the EFSA seriously. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)