NGOs take European courts to court against authorisation of herbicide until 2033

French associations have seized the 1^is August the European Court of Justice against the decision of the European Commission to renew until 2033 the authorization in the European Union (EU) of glyphosate, learned the Agence France-Presse (AFP) from their lawyer and a judicial source.

The associations Agir pour l’environnement, Criigen (Independent Research and Information Committee on Genetic Engineering) and the collective of anti-pesticide mayors are demanding the cancellation of the ten-year renewal of the authorization of this controversial herbicide, granted on November 28, 2023 by Brussels, Corinne Lepage, founder of Criigen, told AFP on Friday.

The decision was taken by the European Commission due to a lack of a majority in a vote by member states and following a report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which considered that the level of risk did not justify a ban.

First appeals rejected

These three French NGOs and, in parallel, a collective led by the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe, including Générations futures, had quickly filed requests for review with the Commission, prior to an announced referral to the courts. PAN Europe pointed out that “The approval process ignored studies showing high cancer risk, alarming insect mortality rates, and major brain impacts from glyphosate use.”. Unsurprisingly, both arrests were dismissed at the beginning of the summer, AFP learned from M.^me Lepage and François Veillerette, spokesperson for Générations futures.

Glyphosate, the active substance in several very common herbicides, was classified in 2015 “probable carcinogen” by a research center of the World Health Organization (WHO) – conclusion confirmed in 2021 by the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm).

“There is a failure to apply the precautionary principle”denounces M.^me Lepage, while France withdrew from the market in 2019 Roundup Pro 360, a herbicide containing glyphosate produced by Monsanto. “If it is banned in a European country, how do you expect to build a scientific case saying that there is no problem?”she is indignant.

The Commission’s response is expected by mid-October ahead of a hearing hoped for in 2025, Mr.^me Lepage. PAN Europe has not yet filed an appeal due to procedural delays, according to Mr Veillerette, but the various procedures will probably be joined.