This week the European Union extended the license of the deadly weed killer glyphosate, the main ingredient in Monsanto’s RoundUp. The renewal period of five years was protested from Italy and France. Germany cast the deciding vote. In response, President Macron tweeted:
J’ai demandé au gouvernement de prendre les dispositions nécessaires pour que l’utilisation du glyphosate soit interdite en France dès que des alternatives auront été trouvées, et au plus tard dans 3 ans. #MakeOurPlanetGreatAgain
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 27, 2017
The tweet is translated as, “I have asked the government to take the necessary measures for the use of glyphosate to be banned in France as soon as alternatives are found, and at the latest in three years. #MakeOurPlanetGreatAgain.”
Macron is giving French farmers three years to find an alternative to toxic glyphosate. Why does he feel the EU’s license renewal term of 5 years is too long?
Reasons Why France is Banning Toxic Glyphosate
- Favor European Companies: France lost to Germany in the battle for glyphosate renewal, yet the country has a plan. Chemical companies in Belgium, France, and Italy are already developing a more natural alternative. Monsanto is based in the Louisiana. Thus, European companies could reap big by taking over the multi-billion European pesticide business.((https://www.politico.eu/article/french-and-italians-sense-golden-opportunity-in-glyphosate-ban/))
- Glyphosate is probably carcinogenic: Earlier this year, California classified glyphosate as a known carcinogen adding it to the state’s Proposition 65 list.((http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/07/07/california-glyphosate-monsanto-cancer-causing-fda-crops/)) In 2015, the World Health Organization declared glyphosate is “probably” a carcinogen. Macron feels five years is too long to wait to protect French citizens’ health.
- Increase research: As a result of the French deadline, research into alternatives as well as proving or disproving glyphosate’s safety will increase. Macron has asked researchers to step up efforts to find alternatives. In addition, the president is confident the rest of the EU will follow suit after alternatives are proven safer and more effective.
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