| Negotiations stall on EU GMO deregulation proposal Yesterday, the leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament met for the last time before what should in theory have been the final negotiation meeting between the Parliament, the Council and the European Commission (trilogue) on 30 June. But today, rapporteur Ms Jessica Polfjard asked the Council to cancel the trilogue. Since 22 April, the date of the first trilogue, there have been no fewer than 15 technical meetings and two meetings of the political group leaders in the European Parliament. But no progress has been made. MEP Christophe Clergeau said the Commission and the Council have done nothing to find a compromise on six key issues, including traceability and labelling. GMWatch Ancient maize vs agribusiness: Why Colombia’s ‘seed guardians’ are fighting the use of GMO crops In Colombia, Indigenous, peasant and environmental organisations are supporting draft legislation, under review by the lower house of the Colombian parliament, that would ban genetically modified (GM) seeds, which they claim threaten their traditions, livelihoods and food sovereignty. The initiative faces opposition from agribusiness and sectors that support GM as a strategy for economic development. According to statistics from the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), between 2003 and 2020, 1.07m hectares (2.6m acres) were planted with GM cotton and maize. Farmers supporting the draft legislation plant maize from heritage seeds, which they fear will be contaminated with GMOs. The Guardian New Zealand: No fines or recalls for food with illegal levels of potentially harmful agrichemicals in last five years Not a single fine or recall has been issued for food with illegal levels of potentially harmful agrichemicals in at least five years, despite dozens of breaches. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) had sent "educational letters" to seven businesses since 2020, but had not recalled food nor prosecuted any business during that time. Testing in 2015 found a third of wheat samples had glyphosate – the active ingredient in RoundUp and other herbicides – levels exceeding the legal limit, some by 50 times. The ministry has not tested for glyphosate in its annual monitoring since 2015. University of Canterbury biology professor Jack Heinemann said residue limits were about more than human health, and breaches posed a serious risk to New Zealand's exports and international reputation. He pointed to the upheavals after the Japanese government identified repeated breaches of glyphosate residue limits in New Zealand honey in 2021. "MRLs [maximum permitted residue levels] are used internationally to monitor the safety of food being traded. New Zealand has exceeded MRLs in some food products being exported to other countries and those food products have been rejected. A regulator who ignores those MRLs, or is too tolerant of excess residues, places our safe food export reputation at risk." RNZ The deadly glyphosate cover up: How Monsanto poisoned rural America (video) In an excellent new 14-minute video, the US non-profit newsroom More Perfect Union explores the disturbing background to Bayer’s current mission to rewrite laws to give the company immunity from future lawsuits – all while continuing to make billions in profit from a product linked to cancer. Journalist and author Carey Gillam is among the main contributors. More Perfect Union Pesticides: a life ruined by glyphosate (video) An 8-minute video, in French with English subtitles, together with a news article in English, features Ludovic Maugé, a former landscaper, whose cancer from using Roundup is recognised as an occupational disease. As a result he receives a modest amount monthly in compensation from Bayer-Monsanto, which manufactured the product that poisoned him. But this news report also explains the context of his illness – the failings of regulators who continue to allow glyphosate-based herbicides to stay on the market. Euronews also has a shorter video report (3:33) about Ludovic Maugé’s experience as a glyphosate victim, entitled The impact of glyphosate on real lives, in which he comments, “The pain is constant… When I see politicians reauthorising these [glyphosate] products, I am outraged." Euronews Glyphosate, GMOs, and growing food sustainably, featuring Chuck Benbrook (video) In an in-depth hour-long podcast, Nicole Shanahan interviews the agricultural economist Chuck Benbrook, a well-known expert on pesticides and sustainable farming, about glyphosate. As well as publishing scientific papers on glyphosate, Dr Benbrook has served as an expert witness during the last several years of glyphosate litigation. Back to the People We hope you’ve found this newsletter interesting. It was made possible by GMWatch supporters. To become one, please support our work with a one-off or regular donation. Thank you! __________________________________________________________ Website: http://www.gmwatch.org
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