Press releases
Scientists show how two EU regulatory agencies failed to fulfil their role as foreseen in EU pesticide law. A new scientific study reveals that ECHA dismissed important carcinogenicity findings and neglected evidence that glyphosate induces oxidative stress, a recognised mechanism that can lead to cancer. EFSA in its conclusion wrongfully relied on ECHA's classification of glyphosate as 'noncarcinogenic'.
What do European citizens think of pesticide use, and more specific: what do they think about glyphosate? We have asked IPSOS to conduct an online representative public opinion poll in six countries: Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, Romania and Spain. The results of the full poll will be presented later in September.
Glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA are found in surface waters across 11 out of 12 countries spanning Europe, even during the end of the pesticide application season. From Poland to Portugal, from Belgium to Bulgaria, our waters are polluted by the herbicide. This is the disturbing finding in a new report by PAN Europe and the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament.
The European Commission just released[1] its latest indicators on pesticide use and risk for the year 2021. This comes on top of its publication[2] in July of the EU 2021 results towards Farm to Fork pesticide reduction targets. According to both publications, the use and risk of chemical pesticides would have decreased by 6% in 2021 compared to 2020. Yet, these figures are clashing with Eurostat's[3] most recent data on sales for all pesticides which highlight an increase of 2.7% in 2021 compared to 2020.
Today, 11 global civil society and Indigenous Peoples organizations representing small-scale farmers, agricultural workers, trade unions, and rights holders urged Mr. Qu Dongyu to begin his new term as Director General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on a positive note by ending a controversial partnership with the pesticide industry signed during his previous term, and taking leadership on global action to phase-out Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs).
The European Commission has acted behind closed doors and already presented a draft glyphosate renewal report[1] to Member States, according to a leaked document received by PAN Europe. A proposal for reapproval of glyphosate's license is now expected in September despite all the toxicity issues raised by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Paradoxically, EFSA will publish the background documents that led to its conclusions only in October.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) today gave shocking positive advice to move forward with the prolongation of the use of Europe's most widely used herbicide glyphosate despite a series of data gaps and outstanding issues. In its conclusions, it highlights that the potential genotoxicity of impurities and consumers risk assessment remained incomplete. The potential of glyphosate products to cause developmental neurotoxicity and harm the microbiome and biodiversity is clearly recognised.
Today, the European Commission published its new legislative proposal to deregulate new-generation GMOs, the so-called "New Genomic Techniques" (NGTs). PAN Europe considers that the "solutions" proposed by the industry through NGTs are merely wishful thinking. They are the same kind of deceptions as we observed earlier with conventional GMOs. The NGT patents that are in preparation are herbicide-resistant crops, which would lead to a huge increase in pesticide use. This proposal goes against the will of citizens and violates the precautionary principle.
The European Parliament has sent a clear signal on the need to curb water pollution by voting in support of measures that will improve monitoring and help guide action.
MEPs on the Environment Committee supported new substances including a group of 24 PFAS, several pesticides and, for the first time, pharmaceuticals to be added to the lists of EU pollutants that require Member States to monitor and control the presence of these substances in surface and groundwater.
Farmers, citizens and nature in the EU are not properly protected from the negative impacts of dangerous pesticides. Recently The Guardian, Le Monde, Der Spiegel and other media reported on chemical companies withholding studies on the neurotoxicity of the pesticide substances for which they seek market approval. Keeping dangerous products on the market, harming people’s health. European parliamentarian Canfin compared it to 'Dieselgate'. This withholding of information appears to be just the tip of the iceberg.
