New European Study Seems To Support Glyphosate Safety
November 23, 2015 Looking at any international news over the past few years, it might seem as if the European Union (EU) is decidedly against modern production agricultural practices. For many years now, various EU countries have banned the production/sale of biotech crops to their consumers largely based upon public sentiment vs. sound science. And earlier this year, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) released a report labeling the popular herbicide glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” Since then, numerous environmental groups in the EU have called for a suspension of glyphosate use in their countries pending further assessment. This campaign claims to have over 1.4 million signatures from concerned EU consumers supporting this effort.
To casual observers, it must seem as if good news regarding modern agricultural practices would never appear from any group within the EU block of 28 countries.
Until now, that is. In early November, a new glyphosate safety study was released by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), based in Parma, Italy. Somewhat surprisingly, this one didn’t automatically condemn the herbicide.
“This has been an exhaustive process – a full assessment that has taken into account a wealth of new studies and data,” said Jose Tarazona, head of the pesticides unit at the EFSA. “Regarding carcinogenicity, it is unlikely that this substance is carcinogenic.”
EFSA scientists, who worked with experts from EU countries, said their study differed from IARC’s by only considering glyphosate. The IARC study assessed groups of related chemicals as well as glyphosate.
The group is nonetheless proposing a limit on the maximum safe daily dose for the consumption of glyphosate residue over a period time of time of 0.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. These recommendations will now go to EU policymakers, who have until June 2016 to reapprove or suspend glyphosate for use.
Loading ...It’s nice to finally see some positive news for modern agriculture coming out of the EU. Although glyphosate critics are already lining up against the EFSA report findings, this finally gives proponents of the herbicide something to cling to.
“It confirms the previous evaluations of glyphosate by regulatory authorities around the world, which have consistently conclude that the application of glyphosate poses no unacceptable risk,” said Richard Garnett, chair of the Glyphosate Task Force, in a statement.
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