Reacción a "Reactions: EU to renew glyphosate authorisation for 10 years"

Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides in Spain and in the world for agriculture, forestry or as a treatment for railway or road infrastructures, as well as for the care of roads, parks and gardens in urban areas. The reason is simple: it is cheap because it is patent-free and, above all, it is the most effective and safest because it affects specific biochemical pathways in plants that are not present in animals. 

To date, there are more than 800 studies and reports from official bodies and safety agencies around the world, in addition to EFSA and WHO/FAO, that conclude that glyphosate is unlikely to be carcinogenic to humans. Recall that in 2015, the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as group 2A. This means that it is "probably carcinogenic to humans", just like professions such as being a hairdresser, working night shifts or eating red meat, none of which have been banned. The IARC's initial decision was shrouded in shadows from the outset, as it was discovered that the agency had omitted key information from its report, which never saw the light of day, that supported the safety of the product. The methodology used by the IARC was also called into question, along with possible conflicts of interest on the part of the assessment panel. Behind the campaign against glyphosate is its link to GM RR plants, resistant to glyphosate, which has been one of the most successful and is still the most widely used today. These plants are not grown in Europe, but are imported. The use of glyphosate allows direct sowing, with the consequent savings in inputs, fuel and less impact on the soil by avoiding ploughing. 

All in all, this is good news for our farmers because to date we have no other product that is as effective and safe. Like any other chemical compound, it must be handled and used in accordance with the indications and regulations that govern it. We have independent agencies and bodies that look after our safety and that of other living beings and the environment. It should be remembered that many of the local councils that put obstacles in the way of its use have gone back to using it due to the lack of effective alternatives.