The toxic effects of Glyphosate reported in the scientific literature were rarely taken into account in the development of the European pesticide risk assessment report, despite the European Law mandate [1].
Even when they did, they were dismissed repeatedly from the final evaluation for no valid scientific reason. These were the striking findings of the new report published yesterday by Générations Futures and Pesticide Action Network Europe. The technical report, which was produced by a consultant, provides further evidence to the controversial ‘safety’ assessment of glyphosate, highlighting once more the toxic potential of this substance and the extensive efforts of the industry and European Authorities to hide it.
An earlier report [2] by PAN Europe, had already shown that, out of the 146 studies reporting glyphosate toxicity in the scientific literature, only 76 (51%) were provided in the Review Assessment Report, while just 24 (approx. 30% of these) were discussed whereas every single one of them was dismissed from the final evaluation to set the safety limits. When looking into these findings, the new report reveals that 15 different reasons were used by the industry or the Rapporteur Member State of the Renewal Assessment Report to dismiss the studies and the reported adverse effects. Interestingly, industry-sponsored studies revealing toxic effects at lower exposure levels were also dismissed from the evaluation using the same reasons. In 45 out of the 49 cases providing reasons of dismissal no valid scientific argument was provided.
Several other studies were dismissed without providing no reason at all. Such constant, sweeping dismissal of findings, the missing of many important ones, and the failing to evaluate others at all, means that important and often replicated studies of hazardous effects on mammals, such as humans, will certainly lead to a lack of protection of the public against the harms of synthetic pesticides. Removing those studies from the final evaluation with no valid scientific explanation is unlawful and scandalous: the EU glyphosate safety limits are imprecise and citizens could be exposed to levels of glyphosate reported in scientific literature to cause harm.
“This shows that the evaluation of glyphosate has not been carried out in a satisfactory way, and as such that its license should not be renewed”, stated Générations Futures’ director François Veillerette and president of PAN Europe. “Générations Futures and PAN Europe hope that France and all European Governments should consider these elements ahead of the next SCoPAFF [3] meeting on November 9th, and decide to vote against the renewal of the authorisation for glyphosate in the EU, following the example set by Austria and Italy”, he added.
Contact:
- Francois Veillerette, Director of Générations Futures: FRANCOIS [at] GENERATIONS-FUTURES.FR / 0033 – (0) 681646558
- Hans Muilerman, Chemical Officer, PAN Europe, hans [at] pan-europe.info / 00316-55807255
[1] Plant Protection Products Reg. 1107/2009, Article 8 (5).
[2] PAN Europe 2014, “Missed and Dismissed”
[3] Standing Committee of Plants, Animals Food and Feed of EU Commission’s Health Directorate (DG SANTE)
