Strict, Europe-wide conditions are currently imposed on the use of glyphosate-based herbicides (notable Roundup), and the World Health Organisation has declared the chemical to be a probable human carcinogen. But Europe's own advisory body on chemical safety has ruled that glyphosate should not be considered a danger to humans.
Now the Commission has proposed, as a 'starting point for debate' that a 10-year approval for glyphosate should be considered. The move was immediately opposed by the Green/socialist grouping of MEPs, who contend that the Commission's reasons for the proposal are not transparent, and that many of the relevant documents have not been made public. Meanwhile, NGOs have accused the pesticide industry of 'buying science' to persuade law-makers to continue licensing the lucrative product.
Read more on Euractiv here.
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