2023-09-29 17:01:00
What will Belgium vote for in the European vote on the renewal of glyphosate, the most popular herbicide in the world and highly controversial? A preparatory meeting of the restricted council of ministers, organized this Friday, September 29, should allow us to see more clearly on the issue.
As a reminder, the authorization of glyphosate will expire in mid-December. The European Commission has proposed to Member States to renew the authorization of this controversial herbicide in the EU for ten years. This proposal follows the report from the European Food Safety Authority, which gave the green light at the beginning of July. If the Twenty-seven agree in the vote scheduled for October 13, glyphosate might be authorized within the EU until December 15, 2033.
The European Commission proposes to authorize glyphosate until 2034, Belgium has not yet decided on its position
Forte opposition
For Nature&Progrès, this is a “totally unacceptable proposal when we know the independent academic studies which for years have demonstrated the toxicity of glyphosate on health and the environment”. The environmental defense association recalls that glyphosate is recognized as “probably carcinogenic” by several independent institutions, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). This is not the case for the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which estimated last year that the available scientific evidence did not allow glyphosate to be classified as carcinogenic.
“Unfortunately, the probably carcinogenic nature is only the tip of the iceberg,” deplores the association, which regrets that the neurotoxic nature of glyphosate is not taken into account by the European authorities.
On Wednesday, the NGO Global 2000 and the European Pesticide Action Network (PAN Europe) filed a complaint once morest Bayer. The organizations accuse the agrochemical giant of having concealed unfavorable studies and data on the carcinogenic and neurotoxic effects of glyphosate. They argue that these omissions may have influenced the conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Glyphosate: new legal action once morest Bayer, accused of having concealed risks for pregnant women
“Minister Clarinval doesn’t care regarding the precautionary principle”
In view of these elements, opponents of glyphosate invite us to apply the precautionary principle. “It should be imposed, allow us to sort things out, and consider that, faced with a range of alarming studies and recommendations from the Superior Health Council, our government should assume the responsibility of voting ‘Against’ the renewal of glyphosate ”, recommends Nature&Progrès. “But Minister Clarinval doesn’t care regarding the precautionary principle,” accuses the environmental association, recalling that the minister considered that it was not useful to apply it due to recent scientific advice.
The meeting of agriculture officials from the offices of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers, organized at Minister Clarinval’s office, did not result in a Belgian position. The decision will therefore be taken during the kern on Friday October 6, one week before the vote. However, the lack of agreement between the different parties seems to lead towards an abstention by Belgium during the vote. According to information from the organization, Open VLD and MR are both in favor of the renewal. The PS, Vooruit, Groen and Ecolo would be once morest, invoking the precautionary principle and the opinion of the Superior Health Council, which pleads for an abandonment of glyphosate. The CD&V has not yet made a decision.
“Ahead of this preparatory meeting, we informed the various deputy prime ministers of all the arguments that should weigh in the balance and of the alternatives. To sign and continue, as some majority parties wish, is to lock in the current system. This system which sabotages our health, our environment, and traps farmers. We now hope that our concerns will be taken into account,” declares Virginie Pissoort, advocacy and campaign manager, Nature&Progrès.
The association recalls that alternatives exist and that the upcoming vote is “a unique opportunity to turn our back on glyphosate, to accelerate the research and deployment of alternatives”.
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