EESC Meeting on #BanGlyphosate - Livestream

A European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) has recently been launched to call on European Commission to propose a ban on glyphosate-based herbicides, “exposure to which has been linked to cancer in humans, and has led to ecosystems degradation” according to the ECI organisers. You can watch a recording of the deabate, which includes Oliver Moore of ARC2020, below.

The Initiative also calls for “a reform of the pesticide approval procedure, and for EU-wide mandatory reduction targets for pesticide use.” So far, nearly 580,000 people have signed the petition according to the ECI organisers.

Watch the livestream here

The WHO has classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic”. On the other hand, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) have dismissed scientific statements that possibly would be demonstrating that the weed killer glyphosate could cause cancer.

If the ECI4 receives the support of a million people from at least seven member states, the Commission will be obliged to consider a legislative response and provide justification for its decision.

This European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) debate will be moderated by Mr Brendan BURNS, NAT Section president, with the participation of:

Ms Franziska ACHTERBERG
EU Food Policy Director – Greenpeace: promoter of the ECI (10 min)
Mr Michael FLUEH
Head of Unit of the “Pesticides and biocides” unit – DG Health and Food Safety (7 min)
Mr Graeme TAYLOR
Director of Public Affairs – ECPA – the European Crop Protection Association (7 min)
Mr Oliver MOORE
Communications Director – ARC2020 (7 min)
Mr Pekka PESONEN
Secretary General – Copa Cogeca (7 min)

The European Economic and Social Committee is a consultative body of the European Union established in 1958. It is an advisory assembly composed of “social partners”, namely: employers, employees and representatives of various other interests.