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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release

European Commission Intervenes in Glyphosate Decision - Global Justice Now Response

Responding to the European Commission's intervention today in what was expected to be a decision over the relicensing of controversial chemical glyphosate, Aisha Dodwell, a food campaigner from Global Justice now said:

"After a third failed attempt to make a decision on the relicensing of glyphosate, the deadlock over this 'probably carcinogenic' chemical continues.

"Despite millions of people across Europe demanding an outright ban, and the European Parliament calling for severe restrictions, the commission continues to push through its proposal to renew glyphosate's license. In the face of this public revolt over glyphosate, the commission has now decided to take the decision to an appeals panel, meaning once again we will have been left waiting to hear if Europe's public will continue to be exposed to toxic chemicals.

"It's not surprising that people in the UK are feeling such hostility towards the workings of the EU. What we've seen today is a pretty undemocratic and un-transparent decision making process laid bare.

"The commission needs to ensure the safety of people across the continent, rather than pander to the corporate interests of agribusiness companies like Monsanto who make enormous profits from products containing glyphosate."

In early May pressure group Global Justice Now, which has a long-standing campaign against the corporate control of food systems, sent over 800 'Monsanto Exposed' brandalism packs to activists across the country. The packs contained labels that have been designed using the distinctive branding of Monsanto's Roundup weed killer. The spoof labels warn that the product is classified as 'probably causing cancer' and that Monsanto's corporate control of agriculture 'degrades farmers' power'. Activist groups are being encouraged to wrap the labels around bottles of Roundup in garden centres across the country and share images on social media with the hashtag #MonsantoExposed.

Free photos of the relabelled Roundup bottles can be found here.

Global Justice Now is a democratic social justice organisation working as part of a global movement to challenge the powerful and create a more just and equal world. We mobilise people in the UK for change, and act in solidarity with those fighting injustice, particularly in the global south.

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