Call comes within days of EU Parliamentary hearing on the “Monsanto papers” and glyphosate’s toxicity. Image source.

by GM Watch

Excerpts:

On 16 October a cross-party group of MEPs demanded a phase-out of glyphosate by December 2020. They want a ban on non-professional use of the herbicide and use in public parks or playgrounds after 15 December 2017, when the current authorisation expires. The MEPs want the Commission to withdraw its proposal for a 10-year renewal.

The MEPs also want a ban on agricultural application after 15 December 2017 in cases where integrated plant protection methods are sufficient. They are asking for Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funds to be made available to farmers to support the transition to more sustainable methods of weed control.

In addition, the MEPs asked for a complete overhaul of the EU’s risk assessment of pesticides. They want the REFIT reform of EU regulations to be used to ensure that the scientific evaluation of pesticides for regulatory approval is based only on published, peer-reviewed and independent studies commissioned by competent public authorities.

The MEPs’ demands appeared in a draft resolution that will be debated and voted on 19 October in the ENVI Committee.

These developments come ahead of the planned vote on the renewal of the authorisation for glyphosate in the Standing Committee (Plants, Animals, Food and Feed) on 23 October.

The MEPs’ draft resolution follows shortly after a joint ENVI/AGRI committee hearing in the European Parliament on the “Monsanto papers” and glyphosate, held on 11 October. You can watch videos of all the presentations here.

Read the full article at GM Watch.

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