Local environmental groups are urging the government to hold its stand against the controversial weed-killer glyphosate and resist last-ditch efforts by the European Commission to force a deal through.
Technical experts from all European countries meet in Brussels tomorrow for yet another vote in the long-running saga surrounding the re-authorisation of glyphosate, which is considered a “probable human carcinogen” by the World Health Organisation cancer agency.
The licence for the substance, the main ingredient of Monsanto’s agri-chemical Roundup Ready crop (accounting for €4.4 billion worth of revenue), expires on June 30.
The Commission will today propose a limited extension of 12 to 18 months to allow time for a new scientific study into its potential health issues after an earlier 15-year proposed extension failed to garner the necessary qualified majority.
Environment Minister José Herrera said last month Malta would vote against the licence renewal when the Commission tabled an initial compromise proposal of nine years.
Asked yesterday whether Malta would maintain its opposition in light of the new, more limited proposal, the Environment Ministry replied: “Malta should vote against the renewal of such licences.”
Speaking to the Times of Malta, John Portelli, from the Malta Organic Food Movement, urged the government to remember its commitments and support an immediate ban on glyphosate.
“Apart from the health risks, a limited extension would open the door to corporations suing the European community for billions of euros if and when TTIP [the controversial Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership] is introduced,” he said.
Friends of the Earth Malta also said a complete ban was “the only sure way to protect our health and environment”.
Industry sources told this newspaper that, should a deal on the limited extension fail to be reached, the Commission’s options would be to re-authorise glyphosate without member states’ agreement or allow the current authorisation to expire.
Should the latter option, considered more likely in the face of opposition from Italy, France and Germany, come about, all glyphosate products would have to be withdrawn from the European market within six months.
There is no scientific consensus on the safety of glyphosate. The International Agency for Research on Cancer considers it a “probable carcinogen” although the classification does not consider the likelihood of cancer being caused under normal conditions.
The European Food Safety Agency has said glyphosate was unlikely to cause cancer but the scientific basis of the report was heavily contested.
European farmers, meanwhile, have warned that, without glyphosate, sustainable, quality and safe EU food supplies could be under threat.