glyphosate

[robert99]

Even as we speak the war on glyphosate (Roundup to you and I) goes on ... Big Ag wants to carry on using it but ...
see http://www.copa-cogeca.be/Menu.aspx
Ahead of the EU Standing Committee on Plants, animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF) vote , Copa & Cogeca call on the EC to renew authorisation of the most widely used herbicide active substance glyphosate

Roundup weedkiller 'probably' causes cancer, says WHO study
Roundup, the world’s most widely used weedkiller, “probably” causes cancer, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – WHO’s cancer agency – said that glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide made by agriculture company Monsanto, was “classified as probably carcinogenic to humans”.

It also said there was “limited evidence” that glyphosate was carcinogenic in humans for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

and ... Glyphosate, Hard Water and Nephrotoxic Metals: Are They the Culprits Behind the Epidemic of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology in Sri Lanka?
Glyphosate, Hard Water and Nephrotoxic Metals: Are They the Culprits Behind the Epidemic of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology in Sri Lanka?
"Here, we have hypothesized the association of using glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide in the disease endemic area and its unique metal chelating properties. The possible role played by glyphosate-metal complexes in this epidemic has not been given any serious consideration by investigators for the last two decades. Furthermore, it may explain similar kidney disease epidemics observed in Andra Pradesh (India) and Central America. Although glyphosate alone does not cause an epidemic of chronic kidney disease, it seems to have acquired the ability to destroy the renal tissues of thousands of farmers when it forms complexes with a localized geo environmental factor (hardness) and nephrotoxic metals."

But EFSA (EU Food Safety Authority) say "Regarding carcinogenicity, it is unlikely that this substance is carcinogenic.” Glyphosate: EFSA updates toxicological profile | European Food Safety Authority
but "has set an acute reference dose (ARfD) for glyphosate of 0.5 mg per kg of body weight, the first time such an exposure threshold has been applied to the substance."

 

[robert99]

The clock is ticking - Sweden will not vote for a renewal, but unclear if they will vote against or abstain.
EU delays vote on weed-killer glyphosate licence amid cancer row
Omröstning om glyfosat inställd igen
EU delays vote on weed-killer glyphosate licence amid cancer row
The European Union on Thursday delayed a vote on renewing sales approval for the pesticide glyphosate, used in Monsanto's weed-killer Roundup, amid a transatlantic row over whether it may cause cancer.

Experts from the EU's 28 nations had been due to vote on a proposal, seen by Reuters, to extend by nine years licensing of the herbicide, widely used by farmers and gardeners.

EU sources said the vote was postponed due to opposition in France and Germany, which have big farming and chemicals industries.

Without those two countries' support, the European Commission lacks the majority it needs for a binding vote: "Since it was obvious that no qualified majority would have been reached, a vote was not held," a Commission spokeswoman said.

The EU executive had hoped for a decision to stop the clock ticking on a six-month phase-out period for glyphosate products when the existing authorisation lapses at the end of June.

 

[Second Summer]

The neighbour loves it (Round-up). Or loved it. Then she had cancer, and I don't think she's done a lot of gardening after that ...

 

[robert99]

and in the middle of all this Bayer decides to buy up Monsanto ... humm ...

 

[robert99]

Glyphosate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Use of glyphosate to clear milkweed along roads and fields has led to a decline in monarch butterfly populations in the Midwest. The herbicide usage caused an estimated 58% decline in milkweeds, which resulted in 81% decline in monarchs."
Roundup (glyphosate) weeds are also starting to appear which means we're back to square one folks!

 

[robert99]

SABC News - EU nations refuse to back new licence for glyphosate weed-killer:Monday 6 June 2016
EU nations refused to back a limited extension of the herbicide glyphosate's use on Monday, threatening withdrawal of Monsanto's Roundup and other weed-killers from shelves if no decision is reached by the end of the month.

Contradictory findings on the carcinogenic risks of the chemical have thrust it into the centre of a dispute among EU and US politicians, regulators and researchers.

The EU executive, after failing to win support in two meetings earlier this year for a proposal to renew the licence for glyphosate for up to 15 years, had offered a 12 to 18 month extension to allow time for further scientific study. It hopes a study by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will allay health concerns, as citizen and environmental groups pile pressure on governments to take a precautionary approach.

The compromise proposal failed to win the qualified majority needed for adoption, an EU official said, adding the European Commission will discuss the issue at a meeting on Tuesday. Seven member states abstained and 20 backed the proposal, a German environment ministry spokeswoman said.

Only Malta voted against, diplomats said.
Reuters on the same story - EU countries refuse to back new license for glyphosate weed-killer
(the pro glyphosate "task force" - wonder who they might be? - did not like it)
Glyphosate | Glyphosate Task Force laments extreme politicisation of EU renewal process that is supposed to be based on science
The sudden expiration of the approval would entail serious consequences for European farmers, who rely on glyphosate as a reliable and effective tool for weed management and the protection of crop yields.

 

[robert99]

Vote again on glyphoste by the EU at the end of next week (23, 24 th June) - the lobbyists are working overtime!
Ny omröstning om glyfosat nästa vecka
Even if the result is the same as last time (small majority for renewal), the EU Commision can decide to extend the approval for use. This is apparently the latest norm, so politicians can blame the EU for making the decsion regardless of how they voted themselves. Sneaky!

 

[Andy_T]

This is what I do not like about GMO crops (although all kinds of people try to convince me that they are totally safe)

GMO crops are designed to withstand "Roundup" as glyphosate is commonly called. Thus, they enable the farmer to use Roundup to combat weeds. This leads to an increased residue level of glyphosate in the final produce. So while the plant being GMO might not have any adversary effect on our health, its glyphosate content will be much higher than that of conventional or organic produce.

Compositional differences in soybeans on the market: Glyphosate accumulates in Roundup Ready GM soybeans
Glyphosate’s Suppression of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Amino Acid Biosynthesis by the Gut Microbiome: Pathways to Modern Diseases
Environmental Sciences Europe

 

[robert99]

Glyfosat i många svenska ölsorter
Ogräsmedel i öl
15 of 16 beers in Sweden have glyphoste in them ... yummy!

 

[robert99]

Farmers geting worried about the impending deadline -
Fortsatt oviss framtid för glyfosat
http://www.copa-cogeca.eu/Download.ashx?ID=1537622&fmt=pdf
Copa and Cogeca regret EU Appeal Committee did not give opinion to re-authorise glyphosate,
after EU Food safety Authority (EFSA) gave positive assessment
Copa and Cogeca, representing 23 million EU farmers and 22,000 agri-cooperatives, regret that the
EU Appeal Committee did not today deliver an opinion on re-authorising the herbicide active
substance glyphosate, after EFSA gave a positive assessment.
Copa and Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen stressed: “I am very disappointed at the lack of
progress on this important dossier. It’s unacceptable that the EU is not following the scientific
advice of its own European Food Safety Authoritys’s EFSA’s which gave a positive assessment of this
product. The EU Institutions and Member States have the responsibility to build consumer trust in
our high food safety standards by supporting the role of EFSA. We urge the European Commission
to approve it, as the expiry date for the active substance is 30 th June”.

 

[robert99]

and this was a real whopper -
"http://www.copa-cogeca.eu/Download.ashx?ID=1538245&fmt=pdf
Copa & Cogeca welcome as a positive step EU Farm Ministers calls for a new
package of measures to help alleviate impact of the agricultural crisis
Copa & Cogeca warned EU Farm Ministers of the critical situation on EU agricultural markets in
a high-level meeting today and welcomed calls from Ministers for a new support package to help
alleviate the impact of it.
Speaking at a meeting with the Dutch Presidency in Luxembourg, Cogeca President Thomas
Magnusson said “The market situation at farm l evel is real l y not improving, being hit by a
combination of factors including the economic downturn, high input costs and low prices as well
as the Russian export ban. Farmers are suffering from severe liquidity problems. The UK vote in
favour of Brexit in the EU Referendum adds to the uncertainty. It wil l be crucial to avoid any
further disruptions to the market. We urge Ministers to agree on a new package of measures to
support the sector, using additional funds without affecting the crisis reserve. New tools must be
activated and new markets found using exports credits to give traders more certainty when they
export”.
Wrapping up, Mr Magnusson went on to express his extreme disappointment at the way the
dossier concerning re-authorisation of the herbicide active substance gl yphosate has been
handl ed since it has many environmental benefits and the EU Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
gave it a positive assessment. “It wil l al so make EU farmers l ess competitive if we l ose it”,
Magnusson said. And he urged the Commission to re-authorise it at the end of the month.
Glyphosate has enviromental benefits? Mmm ...

 

[robert99]

98http://www.atl.nu/lantbruk/glyfosats-godkannande-forlangs/?utm_source=ATL+Nyhetsbrev&utm_campaign=96e97cdab0-RSS_EMAIL_ONCE_1500&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0f8856c868-96e97cdab0-95699833
Rumour is that glyphosate (Roundup) will get a 18 month long extension for use.EU-Commission will apparently go ahead with their own proposal including restricted use in public parks

 

[robert99]

EU avoids glyphosate exit
Due to Brexit taking over recent agendas, the European Commission postponed voting on the extension of the EU licence for glyphosate.

Instead, the commission used written procedures to decide a temporary extension of the licence, for 18 months.

During that period, the European Chemicals Agency will complete its assessment of whether glyphosate is carcinogenic to humans, something deemed “unlikely” by the EU food safety body.

 

[robert99]

Glyfosat och talgamin förbjuden kombination
Kemikalieinspektionen omprövar godkännanden av växtskyddsmedel med tillsatsämnet talgamin

The EU-Commission has decded to reprove products with glyphosate and (POEA) polyethoxylated tallow amine. Sweden's Chemical Inspection Authority is going to re-test 11 products currently licensed for use.

Weed-Whacking Herbicide Proves Deadly to Human Cells
June 23, 2009
Until now, most health studies have focused on the safety of glyphosate, rather than the mixture of ingredients found in Roundup. But in the new study, scientists found that Roundup’s inert ingredients amplified the toxic effect on human cells—even at concentrations much more diluted than those used on farms and lawns.

One specific inert ingredient, polyethoxylated tallowamine, or POEA, was more deadly to human embryonic, placental and umbilical cord cells than the herbicide itself – a finding the researchers call “astonishing.”

“This clearly confirms that the [inert ingredients] in Roundup formulations are not inert,” wrote the study authors from France’s University of Caen."

Moreover, the proprietary mixtures available on the market could cause cell damage and even death [at the] residual levels” found on Roundup-treated crops, such as soybeans, alfalfa and corn, or lawns and gardens.

The research team suspects that Roundup might cause pregnancy problems by interfering with hormone production, possibly leading to abnormal fetal development, low birth weights or miscarriages.