Glyphosate : how much more can we swallow ?

Paris, 20th March 2017. The fate of the herbicide glyphosate is under discussion at the European Commission. The World Health Organisation (WHO) considers glyphosate to be “probably carcinogenic to humans”, while the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) does not agree. This controversy is largely due to different interpretations of results obtained from experiments on rats.

This is now a recurring theme. First, the regulatory authorities provide marketing approval for a new chemical product, on the basis of animal tests (glyphosate was approved in 1974 and its use subsequently became very widespread worldwide). After four decades of use, there is now concern that glyphosate may be damaging to human health, based on epidemiological evidence in human populations. The regulatory authorities have responded by stating that there is still insufficient human evidence to remove glyphosate from the market and are instead relying on more animal tests.

The public has been duped once again because the regulatory authorities are focused on collecting animal data rather than looking for more human data. Human population studies on the effects of glyphosate are very rare because they are not a legal requirement, while studies using animals are an absolute legal requirement. Antidote Europe is calling for a parliamentary commission of inquiry to address this absurd situation. See petition below :

http://www.mesopinions.com/petition/animaux/exp-rimentation-animale-exigeons-commission-enqu/25725

Media enquiries

Andre Menache 0033-6-23426295

Scientific consultant Antidote Europe

References

http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/Global/eu-unit/reports-briefings/2017/20170303%20BR%20glyphosate%20timeline.pdf
http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/iarcnews/pdf/MonographVolume112.pdf
https://www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/4302_glyphosate_complementary.pdf