The coalition of associations that launched the ‘Toxic Secrets’ citizens’ campaign in October 2020, which gathered more than 14,000 signatures, received the support of 119 MEPs and French MPs on Thursday 25 February in demanding that EFSA rectify the flaws in its pesticide risk assessment.
A first joint letter was sent the same day to EFSA, asking it to apply the European ‘Pesticides’ regulation and requesting the withdrawal of toxic products from the market.
Undeclared toxic products, such as heavy metals and other toxic formulants found on the labels of 14 pesticides evaluated by EFSA, led the associations to file a complaint against X and to launch their campaign last year. They also note the fact that the cumulative effect of the components (a ‘cocktail effect’) is ignored.
In a press release, MEP Éric Andrieu (S&D, France) points out that the demands that have been made are in line with the conclusions of the European Parliament’s special PEST committee, which he chaired in 2018 under the previous mandate (see EUROPE 12155/13).
“The Special Commission has called for urgent improvements in approval procedures, including greater transparency, independence and resources. Today, our demands remain the same. However, civil society, citizens, consumers and NGOs have never been so concerned by the issue”.
Today, with the European Green Deal, the European Commission says that it is ‘greener’ than ever. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)