Glyphosate, a herbicide at the heart of controversy that sparks intense political debates within the European Union (EU), will see its authorization extended for ten years in Europe, the European Commission announced. This decision, facing the reluctance of member states such as France, Italy, Germany, etc., will lead to the unilateral approval of the recommendation by the Commission.
This decision, ignoring the lack of support from Member States, provokes criticism suggesting that it favors the interests of agrochemical lobbies rather than following scientific advice, NGOs, and other consumer and environmental protection associations. It prioritizes economic interests over the precautionary principle.
It also avoids a potential “war” with powerful agricultural and agrochemical lobbies at national and international levels, leaving each Member State free to restrict or not the use of glyphosate, although this requires a legal basis.
Consequently, the Commission will alone approve, on December 15, its recommendation aimed at renewing the authorization of glyphosate until 2033. This is despite persistent concerns regarding its classification as a “probable carcinogen for humans” by the International Center for Cancer Research. Its use raises concerns due to possible repercussions on biodiversity, human and animal health, and the environment.
The controversy surrounding glyphosate has persisted since the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified it as a “probable carcinogen” in 2015. However, in July, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) stated that no “critical areas of harm” had been identified in humans, animals, and the environment, not justifying a ban on the herbicide. This assertion, however, was accompanied by the recognition of a lack of data.
Glyphosate, also known as Roundup, or by other names such as Rando, Roundup Energy, TDI, etc., is a herbicide widely adopted by farmers, mainly in cereal crops, to fight against weeds. The increase in its use on family farms is attributed to the lack of labor in agricultural regions of the world, particularly in Africa. This trend is accentuated by the low financial return on agriculture and the migration of young people to urban areas.
In Morocco, glyphosate is used in agriculture but with restrictions, with the Moroccan government reportedly taking steps to regulate the use of glyphosate. In 2019, the Ministry of Agriculture announced a ban on the import and production of certain glyphosate-based herbicides. This decision aimed to reduce risks to health and the environment.
The use of glyphosate in Morocco has therefore been subject to regulations and restrictions to alleviate concerns related to this herbicide. Discussions about the safety of its use continue, with a delicate balance between agricultural needs and the protection of health and the environment.
Contacted by Hespress FR, Dr. Bouazza Kherrati, the president of the Moroccan Federation of Consumer Rights (FMDC), declared that glyphosate is an authorized herbicide in Morocco and has never been banned. It is a product classified as carcinogenic in humans and animals; it destroys the weeds, so to speak, which grow with the crops and all the parasites that go with them.
Dr. Bouazza Kherrati highlighted the dangers of glyphosate, pointing out that the World Health Organization (WHO) had classified it as a “probable carcinogen” in 2015. He insisted that subsequent studies have also identified potential risks of neurological disorders and reproductive problems linked to this substance. The president of the FMDC Consumer Federation warned of the consequences of exposure to pesticides, stressing that it can affect the health of users and their families. He also mentioned that cases of poisoning, sometimes fatal, are regularly reported around the world, particularly after the consumption of market garden products treated freshly or immediately afterward, with herbicides containing glyphosate.
And to specify: “These are the most used types of pesticides across the planet. Roundup, not to mention it, was the first to be banned throughout the world, but it has come back to the forefront, due to agricultural and agrochemical lobbies. And to conclude: “You should know that the latter are as powerful as the arms lobbies or pharmaceutical labs on an international scale. Coming back to Morocco, personally, we have constantly denounced this phenomenon for more than a decade starting in 2012. We have become tired of the lack of response. In this case, it is the Moroccan consumer who is to blame
