allowed The controversial pesticide glyphosate is the intention of the European Commission initially another twelve to 18 months will be applied in Europe. This would be the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) given time to consider potential risks, EU Health Commissioner vytenis andriukaitis said. The authority should clarify whether a health risk from the chemical originates. According to some researchers it is suspected to be carcinogenic.
Based on the findings, the European Commission will then try to decide on a permanent registration of glyphosate. “I am convinced that we should make our decision on the basis of scientifically based, and not because of political interests”, Andriukaitis said.
that means: glyphosate
First glyphosate in 1950 was synthesized by the company Monsanto. Since the seventies, the substance in agriculture is used. As an essential ingredient of the pesticide Roundup kills weeds it on fields with rapeseed, corn and other crops.
Today Glyphosate is the pesticide by far the most used. Its use has doubled in the past decade, such as the study of a pesticide researcher shows (Benbrook et al., 2016). First, the chemical has been used mainly before sowing to rid fields of weeds. But since there are genetically modified plants that are resistant to glyphosate, it can also be used after sowing.
The dispute
Should the chemical be further allowed? According to the EU drug testing a reassessment of glyphosate is required before politicians can decide on a further authorization. As a responsible authority, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has more than 1,000 studies and documents analyzed and presented in 2013 first results as a draft. It was followed by a public discussion, the examiner its report to the European Food Safety Authority for Food Safety (EFSA) a year later have passed. Their professionals have the data also examined and concluded: glyphosate does not cause cancer.
But then the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) published a report, according to the plant toxic to humans “probably carcinogenic” was in March, 2015. BfR checked his data, as well as the EFSA, both are again, the chemical is “not likely to be carcinogenic”.
In May 2016, the JMPR moved to. The pesticide expert group of the World Health Organization published a report, according to the glyphosate having a very low acute toxicity. Accordingly, it is highly unlikely that Glyphosatrückstände in the diet increase cancer risk for humans.
The decision
Because of the discrepancies, the EU Commission had given a cooling off period until the end of June. Accordingly it has extended the registration of glyphosate to mid 2016th
In the early summer of the expert committee will make the final decision on the future of glyphosate. Although it would be possible to speak out again for the temporary extension of the authorization. But that the EU Commission wants to avoid, according to a small request of the Greens possible.
on Monday, the European Commission wants to discuss the proposal with the Member States who vote on the approval. Germany is thereby included well. The Federal Minister of the SPD are against an extension of the authorization, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt (CSU) for it. With Germany abstaining, a qualified majority is questionable for the extension, which is why the EU Commission had postponed a vote before.
Unable to agree the EU states to 30 June on a common position, the Brussels authority itself has to decide. According Andriukaitis those EU countries that do not want the use of glyphosate, the agents may also prohibit despite an authorization.
No comments:
Post a Comment