The European Parliament was once again the forum for a robust exchange on glyphosate in Brussels on Monday 20 November, this time with representatives of the citizens’ initiative Stop glyphosate which garnered 1.3 million signatures in record time.
Addressing the MEPs from four Parliamentary committees – environment, agriculture, industry and partitions – and with Health and Food Safety Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis in attendance at a hearing, Mika Leandro, the spokesperson for the ECI, set out the reasoning and “legitimate concerns” of the 1.3 million citizens, and not only for a complete ban on glyphosate but also reform of the at risk assessment procedure for pesticides in the EU and the setting, at EU level, of binding targets for reducing the use of pesticides.
The existence of evidence on harmful effects on biodiversity, doubts over the independence of the European agencies (EFSA and ECHA), and fears that the active substance glyphosate is, according to the WHO International Centre for Research on Cancer, a carcinogen for human beings were the main arguments advanced.
“The procedure for authorising glyphosate in the EU is symbolic of all that is wrong. We want a transparent, independent procedure, as required by the EU rules, and respect for the directive on the sustainable use of pesticides. This ECI is the latest alert raised by citizens. The EU has to make a choice. It can lead the way on pesticide-free, sustainable agriculture. The opportunity is there to be seized”, said Leandro.
Asked by MEPs to say whether the organisers of the ECI would be prepared to support the European Parliament position which calls for the phasing out of glyphosate and a total ban by 15 December 2022, Franziska Achterberg from Greenpeace said they were. “We thank Parliament for its support for a gradual ban and a total ban within five years. We’re delighted with Parliament’s position. Our position is to ban it straight away. Parliament’s position is a progressive compromise. We hope it will lead to compromise in the EU.”
The questions from the MEPs highlighted the differences in viewpoints between the majority of parliamentarians, concerned principally for the health of citizens, protection of biodiversity and the advent of sustainable farming, and those, less numerous – conservatives and MEPs speaking on behalf of agricultural circles – mainly concerned not to deprive farmers of this, the world’s most used herbicide, and accusing those who initiated the are petition of launching a campaign of misinformation against Monsanto to the detriment of farmers.
Commissioner Andriukaitis made the point that the Commission had already held a hearing with the ECI representatives on 20 October. Saying that he was “sure that it makes it possible to better understand sensitive issues as help design future policies”, he welcomed the engagement of citizens. This has not, however, made him change his mind. He noted that “member states play a key role in authorisation procedures and are equal partners” with the Commission since authorisation at EU level is followed by a series of national authorisations for end products containing glyphosate.
Responding to MEPs, a representative of the Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Food Safety said that “there is no legal or scientific reason” to propose a ban on glyphosate. The member states will vote on 27 November on a proposal to renew the licence for a period of five years, with no ultimate ban. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)