03/07/2016

DownToEarth

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Controversialweedkillergets18monthextensionfromEuropeanCommission
DTEStaff
Friday01July2016
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Glyphosate,usedbyMonsanto,hasbeenidentifiedasprobablycarcinogenictohumansbyWHOagency
Theextensionhassparkedanoutcryamongactivistsandorganisationsopposedtoglyphosate(Photocredit:
MikeMozart,viaFlickr,CCBY2.0)

TheEuropeanCommissionhasdecidedtoextendthelicenceofglyphosate,foundinMonsantosweedkiller
Roundup,by18months.Thechemicals15yearlicencewastoexpireonJune30thisyear.
Glyphosateisusedwidelyinagriculture,forestry,urbanandhomeapplications.Itsusehasbeensurroundedby
muchdebateduetosafetyconcerns.TheWHOsInternationalAgencyforResearchonCancer(IARC)has
declaredglyphosateasprobablycarcinogenictohumans.
"TheCommissionwillfollowourlegalobligation.WeknowverywellthatwehaveadeadlineofJune30.We
willadoptanextensionforglyphosateof18months,"HealthCommissionerVytenisAndriukaitistoldanews
conferencethisweek.
Europesbignationsremainednoncommittal
TheEuropeanCommissionwasleftwithnooptionbuttoextendthelicenceofglyphosateby18monthsafter
majormemberstatesFrance,GermanyandItalyabstainedfromvotingontheissue.TheCommissionhad
proposedtoextendtheauthorisationofglyphosateuntiltheEuropeanChemicalsAgencycouldpresentitsown
assessmentoftheeffectsofthechemical.
Germanyabstainedfromvotingwithitsowngovernmentbeingsplitovertheuseofglyphosate.Frances
environmentministerSgolneRoyalhadopenlydeclaredthatthecountrywouldholdfirmagainst
glyphosate,butstayedawayfromthevote.Maltawastheonlycountrytovoteagainsttheproposalandthose
thatvotedinfavouroftheextensionwerenotenoughtofulfillthe55percentpopulationthreshold.Withno
cleardecision,theCommissionhadtogoaheadwiththeextension.
Theextensionhassparkedanoutcryamongactivistsandorganisationsopposedtoglyphosate.Thisreckless
decisionwasdrivenbyaCommissionthathaslosttouchwithEuropeancitizens,quietlybackedbymany
nationalgovernments,saidGreenpeace,aninternationalenvironmentalnonprofit.ItcalledontheEuropean
CommissionandEUmemberstatestostartpreparingaglyphosateexitplanassoonaspossible.
Monsanto,onitspart,hasexpresseddisappointmentthattheCommissiongaveonlyatemporaryextension.
GlyphosatemeetsorexceedsallrequirementsforrenewalunderEuropeanlawandregulation.The
overwhelmingmajorityofscientificevidenceandtheEUsownregulatoryagencieshavedeclaredglyphosate
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/controversialweedkillergets18monthextensionfromeuropeancommission54680

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03/07/2016

DownToEarth

safeforuse,saidPhilipWMiller,Monsantosvicepresidentofglobalregulatoryandgovernmentalaffairs,ina
statement.MonsantourgestheEuropeanCommissiontopresentwithoutfurtherunduedelaysaproposalfora
fullrenewalundertheregulatoryframework.
BernsteinsenioranalystJonasOxgaardhadestimatedthatMonsantocouldloseuptoUS$100million
inearningsiftheEUweretohaltglyphosatesales,accordingtoaReutersreport.

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/controversialweedkillergets18monthextensionfromeuropeancommission54680

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