A group of experts representing business, farming, certification, academia, science and civil society have lodged a formal complaint against the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA), raising serious concerns about its public consultation process on genetically modified "precision bred" organisms (PBOs). GMWatch is among the signatories. The complaint, submitted to the Agency and copied to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), to whom it reports, alleges multiple abuses of Cabinet Office Consultation Principles and serious misrepresentation of the facts, which call into question the integrity of the Agency and its stated goal of transparency and truthfulness. Feed Navigator has given excellent coverage to the complaint. GMWatch

 

 

While the European Commission is poised to formally re-approve the controversial herbicide in the coming days, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe and four member organisations are set to challenge the re-approval of glyphosate in EU Court. These organisations are experts in pesticide evaluation and regulation and have significant experience in EU and national Courts. Dr Martin Dermine, executive director of PAN Europe, states: “The re-approval directly contradicts the findings of numerous independent scientists who have researched the impacts of glyphosate. It defies the will of the vast majority of Europeans and ignores the urgent need and political commitment to reduce pesticide use. Most importantly, it contravenes EU pesticide laws, which prioritise health and biodiversity protection over economic interests. Our opposition is grounded in compelling legal and scientific evidence.” GMWatch

 

 

The Global Glyphosate Study (GGS) researchers, who recently presented their findings on increased incidence of leukemia in rats exposed to low doses of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides, have now also made these data publicly available on bioRxiv. In addition, the full manuscript published on bioRxiv was sent to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), in response to these agencies’ request. The findings, which derive from the study’s carcinogenicity arm, showed that both glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides caused leukemia in rats at a young age and at low doses of exposure. No leukemias were observed in unexposed rats. GMWatch

 

 

Caribbean nation St Vincent’s agriculture minister Saboto Caesar is urging all ministers of agriculture and health within the CARICOM (Caribbean Community) to implement an immediate ban on the use of glyphosate. In 2018, St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) took a bold step by prohibiting the use of glyphosate. This decision was prompted by the landmark case of Dewayne Johnson, a former school groundskeeper in the USA, who won his case alleging that Roundup was linked to his terminal cancer, resulting in a jury award of US$289 million. St Vincent Times

 

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