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Controversial herbicide glyphosate Checked and undesirable

As of: 23.06.2021 12:55 p.m.

A test report commissioned by the EU does not consider the weed killer glyphosate to be carcinogenic or dangerous to the genetic makeup. Nevertheless, the drug will probably disappear from the market in Europe.

From Michael Heussen, WDR

The specialist authorities from France, Sweden, Hungary and the Netherlands come to terms with glyphosate to a clear result : The pesticide is not carcinogenic, it does not damage the genetic material and it is neither dangerous for human organs nor for the hormonal balance. The four national authorities had assessed the safety of glyphosate on behalf of the European Commission on the basis of existing study results. You confirm the findings of test authorities around the world.

Nevertheless, it can be assumed that the drug will disappear from the market sooner or later. “Glyphosate is socially dead,” said a farmer official in the run-up to the farmers’ day in Berlin. The public had long since made its judgment – even with solid scientific arguments, the majority of consumers could not be convinced of the harmlessness of the substance. Since 2015, the judgment of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which belongs to the World Health Organization (WHO), has been hovering over the evaluation process like a sword of Damocles: Glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic”.

“Very low probability”

It is hardly surprising that the glyphosate producer Bayer sees it differently and welcomes the positive study results that have now been published. The chemical giant, which with the US-American Monsanto group also took over its glyphosate-containing bestseller Roundup, also rejects another argument – that the herbicide threatens biodiversity.

“Evaluated scientific studies as well as publicly available research reports show only a very low probability that the proper use of glyphosate-containing pesticides has indirect effects on the biodiversity of most food chains,” says the company. For example, the effects on microorganisms living in the soil, worms, birds, pollinating insects such as honey bees, frogs and other amphibians as well as fish have been investigated, according to a Bayer spokesman. So could it happen that glyphosate may also be used in the European Union beyond the approval period that expires at the end of 2022? Much speaks against it.

The Bayer Group sees itself confirmed by the current audit at EU level. Image: dpa

Federal government expects glyphosate to be phased out by 2024

The Federal Environment Ministry, led by Svenja Schulze (SPD), firmly expects that no more glyphosate-containing pesticides may be used from January 1, 2024 at the latest after the end of the one-year transition period. “In agreement with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, we continue to assume that the Federal Government (…) has decided to phase out glyphosate use in accordance with EU law,” it says WDR -Inquiry . About the corresponding amending regulation the Federal Council will decide next Friday. Until the end of the transition period, the application “may only take place if there are no alternative options, for example in the case of weeds that are difficult to control or areas at risk of erosion” – so it is in the voting proposal. Its use on areas that serve the general public, as well as in house and allotment gardens, is completely forbidden.

No further approval expected at EU level

Federal Minister of Agriculture Julia Klöckner (CDU) has also emphasized several times, a spokeswoman for her ministry told the WDR “It cannot be assumed that there will still be a majority after 2022 in favor of an extension of the glyphosate approval at EU level”.

In 2017, the dispute over glyphosate between the ministries almost led to a coalition crisis in Berlin. Because the former Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt (CSU) voted “yes” in the responsible EU committee in Brussels , although the then Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks (SPD) strictly against an extension of the approval for glyphosate was. The different evaluations of the current incumbents are not so obvious. But in the letters of reply to the questions of the WDR There are differences: “Glyphosate-containing pesticides are important for soil-conserving and water-saving cultivation of arable land, especially in areas prone to erosion,” writes the Klöckner spokeswoman. Schulze’s spokesman, on the other hand, emphasizes the dangers for biodiversity: “As a total herbicide, glyphosate destroys all plants indiscriminately and thus destroys the food and livelihood for many insect species such as butterflies and, indirectly, for field birds such as the skylark.”

EU assessment expected in 2022

At the European level, the European Food Safety Authority EFSA and the European Chemicals Agency ECHA will start public participation at the beginning of September – results are expected in one year.

Bayer AG continues to rely on the controversial herbicide. Europe does not play a major role as a sales market. The agricultural countries in North and South America are more important. In the USA around ten billion euros have to be paid in the context of a settlement to 96,000 plaintiffs who blame glyphosate for their cancer, and billions more will be due for future plaintiffs . Bayer therefore wants to limit its use for private customers – but Roundup should continue to be used in large-scale agriculture. Only the warning notices should be made clearly more visible. glyphosate The weed killer glyphosate was developed by Bayer subsidiary Monsanto and marketed under the brand name Roundup. The herbicide is also manufactured by other companies, as the patent has expired for years. Bayer is faced with around 9,300 plaintiffs because of the weed killer in the United States, as glyphosate is suspected of being carcinogenic. This is based on the assessment of the International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC), which classified the active ingredient as “probably carcinogenic” in 2015. The Bayer Group always emphasizes that glyphosate is safe when used properly and relies on a large number of scientific studies.

At the end of 2017, the EU Commission extended the approval of glyphosate by five years and now has to make a new decision. A first round of talks is to take place in September and then the EU member states will be involved. Against this background, the EU Commission commissioned the assessment group for glyphosate (consisting of the testing authorities in France, Hungary, the Netherlands and Sweden) to prepare a draft of the risk assessment. This 11,000-page draft was submitted to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in mid-June 2021. A final recommendation from EFSA can be expected in the second half of 2022 after the submission has been examined

Road 20 Quyet Victory begins at milestone 0 in the South of Xuan Son ferry, Son Trach commune, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh, crosses the top of Truong Son at parallel 17020 at km65 of the Vietnam-Laos border. When passing Lung Bang, the road 128 meets the shortened section connecting to Road 9, which is a focal point in the legendary HCM highway system. At exactly 17:00 on the 30th of the Lunar New Year of the Horse, 1966 the first explosion that opened the way was exploded. With more than 8,000 TNXP soldiers with a fleet of vehicles, engines and mines, breaking the completed road at a record speed, clearing the traffic on April 27, 1966. The road was named Duong 20 Quyet Victory because most of the officers and soldiers who opened the way were in their 20s. Milestone number 0 of the legendary 20 road. Photo: Xuan Nha Realizing the importance of this route, the American enemy raided them frantically. Right from Xuan Son ferry, the first point entering the road became a coordinates of fire, a bomb bag of the United States. Ferry A is Xuan Son ferry and ferry B is Nguyen Van Troi ferry located near Phong Nha cave and 4km apart, becoming two key points of fierce attack. During the day, L19 aircraft will scout and observe along the river bank. At night, C130 aircraft release parachute lights and flares all night to find targets to attack. The most severe was in May 1967, losing pain in the battlefield of the South, so the American enemy attacked more and more to cut the way for our aid. At Xuan Son ferry, they allowed aircraft to carpet bombs, drill bombs, time bombs, cluster bombs, and magnetic bombs day and night to plow to paralyze the banks. At other points on the road there was no moment of peace. The old Xuan Son ferry, now a residential ferry. Photo: Xuan Nha After a series of fierce bombs on the road, there were TNXP soldiers who rushed to patch the road for traffic for the South. Hundreds of soldiers fell in places such as: Km 0, Dong Tien slope, Tra Ang underground, Ba Thang slope, Khe Diem. In such fierce points as in the A-corner, the enemy destroyed 3,020 games (with 270 B52 matches). Following the A-line is the Ta Le underground and the Phu La Nhich pass with the length of 8km (ie the ATP key point) the enemy hit more than 10,000 times (2,450 times B52). One day, they mobilized 93 airplanes (8 B52 turns) to drop bombs on ATP. Nearly 200 officers and soldiers fell for this route to be clear. Death to clear the road In May 1967, the US imperialists sprayed bombs, making Xuan Son ferry blocked. Faced with the urgent situation of destroying the traffic bomb for the ferry terminal, Corporal Vo The Chon voluntarily opened a blood road. At 10:00 a.m. on May 16 (lunar calendar), everyone bowed their heads, wiped tears for peace for Corporal Chon during the live chorus ceremony before he stepped onto a canoe in the middle of the Son River to destroy the magnetic bomb. . The man in his 20s drove a canoe and plunged into the bombing field from the school. The canoe circled around, then two times after that there were loud explosions, ripping Son’s line with sky-high columns of water. After those loud explosions there was a silence and then all burst into the cheering applause of his comrades welcoming Corporal Chon. That brave man from Ly Hoa village has successfully completed the task. Even that night, 300 cars hurriedly passed the ferry in time to reach the South. Trang Ang intersection, street 20. Photo: Xuan Nha At Km 16 + 200 on Road 20 there was not a single day to stop the roar of enemy aircraft and the sound of bombs. Nearby, km 16.5 there is a rocky cave that when the plane crashes or raids 8 girls TNXP often runs into shelter. Since then, the warrior brothers often called this cave the eight-female cave. And that same stone cave has become the cave of fate of 8 people. In the afternoon of November 14, 1972, when it was discovered that B52 was spreading carpets, 8 TNXPs from Team 163, Ban 67 were on duty on the road (including 4 boys and 4 girls) ran back to the cave to shelter. An anti-aircraft artillery platoon consisting of 5 soldiers also maneuvered the battlefield near the cave entrance to organize a counter-force. A series of crazy bombs of the American enemy crushed the road, killing the gun squad on the spot and knocking down the cave where 8 TNXPs took refuge, trapping the soldiers in the cave. Or believe that, immediately combat forces in the area all came to the rescue. knowing that the soldiers in the cave were still alive, but because the cave’s boulders were too heavy, all vehicles and tractors did not budge. The blasting plan was not accepted because the pressure of the mines would immediately kill the soldiers in the cave, revealing the target for the enemy aircraft to return to attack. Finally, the teammates had to prolong the life in the cave by bringing the milk porridge into the cave through the tunnel through the rocks. Eight harsh days, the soldiers struggled with life deprived of oxygen in the cave. On the ninth day, the people standing outside the cave entrance choked when they came out of the cave with a girl’s faint “bruise” call. Then 8 TNXPs in the cave sent greetings to life at the age of 20. They are: Tran Thi To 18 years old, Le Thi Mai 20 years old, Do Thi Loan 20 years old, Le Thi Luong 19 years old and Nguyen Van Hue 20 years old, Nguyen Van Phuong is 20 years old, Nguyen Mau Ky is 20 years old, Hoang Van Vu is 20 years old. All are from Hoang Hoa, Thanh Hoa. Historical relic of Eight-year-old cave. Photo: Xuan Nha Road 20 now runs in the heart of Phong Nha – Ke Bang world natural heritage. This road has been upgraded to become the transportation lifeline of the people of Thuong Trach and Tan Trach communes of Bo Trach district, Quang Binh. These are two communes inhabited by 5 ethnic groups including Ma koong, Sach, Muong, Ca Rai and A Rem. On this road there are two ranger stations stationed at km27 and km39 to protect the national forest of Phong Nha – Ke Bang. Currently, the road plays a very important role in the lives of ethnic minorities living on the road, but it also has enormous historical significance in a legendary road.