Environmental groups on Thursday called for an independent commission to review the registration of the pesticide glyphosate, after the Federal Court of Appeals ordered to reconsider objections to the approval of the pest control product.
The David Suzuki Foundation, Environmental Defense Canada, Friends of the Earth Canada and Safe Matters note that since the court decision dated February 2, nothing has been done on the side of Health Canada to review the decision to ‘allow the use pesticides.
The Court of Appeal’s decision stems from a lawsuit filed in December by Safe Food Matters (SFM), represented by lawyers for Ecojustice, against Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).
Environmentalists criticize the federal agency for not having taken into account, in its decision rendered in April 2017, the repercussions of the pesticide on human health because of its carcinogenic nature.
“We believe an independent review committee should be formed to look at the associated health risks. Pre-harvest use is slowly poisoning us and needs to stop,” said Mary Lou McDonald, founding member and president of Safe Food Matters.
“We hope this court ruling is just the beginning and that an independent review of the flawed 2017 glyphosate ruling will see the light of day,” said Lisa Gue, National Policy Manager at the David Suzuki Foundation.