Glyphosate (active ingredient in commercial products such as Roundup) is considered the most used herbicide in the world… And it is also one of the chemicals that has caused the most controversy in recent years.
Some studies and specialized institutions consider that glyphosate is a low-toxic substance, while other research and prestigious entities classify this compound as a probable carcinogen for humans, included in Group 2A, as indicated since 2015. the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, specialized entity of the World Health Organization).
The use of glyphosate in the European Union currently has a provisional renewal, lasting one year, which expires on December 15. The final phase of the study of the possible renewal of this permit is launched in a meeting scheduled for this Friday, September 22, in a process that should end with the final vote on October 13.
Based on studies by the European Chemical Substances and Mixtures Agency (ECHA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which consider that there is no evidence on the toxicity of this product when used in accordance with current regulations in Europe, The European Commission has proposed granting a 10-year permit for the use of glyphosate (the initial proposal was for a 15-year renewal).
The recommendation of the European executive has provoked strong criticism from environmental organizations, which have been calling for a total ban on this compound for years. On the other hand, several farmers’ organizations defend the use of glyphosate and show their support for the recommendation of the European Commission.
The renewal of the authorization has also provoked a long series of technical consultations by the delegations of 17 EU countries. In any case, it is very likely that the final decision on this issue will leave open (as it already is currently) the possibility of each member country establishing state restrictions or prohibitions based on the agricultural, environmental or health risks that it considers applicable. in its territory.
The position of the delegations of the member countries is not completely defined and in some cases it reveals a difficult balance between the arguments and social sectors in favor and against this herbicide originally linked to the Monsanto firm.
The case of France is one of the most striking examples of political use of glyphosate. The government of the neighboring country strongly opposed the renewal of the European permit approved in 2017 and President Emmanuel Macron himself even announced the total ban by the end of 2020. Minister Ségolène Royal organized a journalistic session to be photographed symbolically removing products with glyphosate from a supermarket.
Macron and Royal’s promise provoked sympathy from environmentalists but aroused the fury of many French agricultural sectors. Shortly after, the ban was qualified (it would only apply in specific cases) and reviewed by judicial requirements. Finally, the French government approved economic and technical aid measures for farmers who chose – voluntarily – to stop using glyphosate.
Last week, French Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau declared in an interview with Ouest France that his government will support the decision ultimately adopted by the EU: “We trust the science, the studies that say that glyphosate does not pose carcinogenic problems”.
The Ministry of Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge includes extensive information on the use, regulation and risk of contamination by glyphosate in Spain on its website. The information released includes maps on the presence of glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA detected in surface and groundwater.
