JUST a year after moving within a whisper of banning the use of the world’s most popular herbicide glyphosate, the European Union (EU) has decreed the product should not be declared as carcinogenic.
The EU’s chemical regulator, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has reached this conclusion ahead of the due date for a renewal of registration of glyphosate-based products for 15 years.
ECHA’s decision flies in the face of findings handed down by the World Health Organisation’s cancer research team last year that glyphosate was a ‘probable’ carcinogenic.
Since then, reports from other organisations, including the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Australia’s own regulator, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) have concluded that glyphosate is not a carcinogen and does not pose a cancer risk to humans.
The ECHA findings will be taken into account when the European Commission (EC), the EU body responsible for the re-registration of glyphosate, makes its decision whether to grant a long term approval for the herbicide.
Last year, an emergency 18 month extension for the use of glyphosate was granted when the expiry date for approval was fast approaching without a decision from the EC.
There was a groundswell of opposition to glyphosate when the nations voted on its renewal, with seven nations abstaining from voting on its re-registration.
Domestically, there have been stricter restrictions placed on glyphosate use in nations regarded as powerbrokers within the EU such as Italy and France.
The decision has not been without controversy, with several non government organisation (NGOs) criticising the findings.
However, Australia’s crop protection peak body CropLife welcomed the decision, saying a decision to ban glyphosate in Europe would have a detrimental impact on Australia’s ability to export grain to the EU.
“The impact on Australian farmers from an erroneous decision to ban glyphosate in Europe would be far reaching, seriously affecting international trade as well as competitiveness,” said CropLife chief Matthew Cossey.
“That is why the conclusion by the ECHA is so important to Australian farming,” he said.
However, Australian-based lobby group Gene Ethics said the ECHA decision should not be the last word on the matter.
“There are a number of studies out there and we assert that scientific evidence suggests carcinogenicity is just one of several unresolved hazards with glyphosate,” said Gene Ethics spokesman Bob Phelps.
“We made comments to the APVMA on our concerns regarding glyphosate at a broader level than just its status as a carcinogen,” he said.
“As a result there will be further work conducted into glyphosate’s safety in Australia.”
Gregor Heard
Gregor Heard is ACM's national grains industry reporter, based in Horsham, Victoria. He has a wealth of knowledge surrounding the cropping sector through his 15 years in the role. Prior to that he was with the Fairfax network as a reporter with Stock & Land. Some of the major issues he has reported on during his time with the company include the deregulation of the export wheat market, the introduction of genetically modified crops and the fight to protect growers better from grain trader insolvencies. Still involved with the family farm he is passionate about rural Australia and its people and hopes to use his role to act as an advocate for those involved in the grain sector.
Gregor Heard is ACM's national grains industry reporter, based in Horsham, Victoria. He has a wealth of knowledge surrounding the cropping sector through his 15 years in the role. Prior to that he was with the Fairfax network as a reporter with Stock & Land. Some of the major issues he has reported on during his time with the company include the deregulation of the export wheat market, the introduction of genetically modified crops and the fight to protect growers better from grain trader insolvencies. Still involved with the family farm he is passionate about rural Australia and its people and hopes to use his role to act as an advocate for those involved in the grain sector.
