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OpenLettertoGeorgeEusticeMPMinisterofStateforAgriculture,FisheriesandFood

DearMinisterTheGuardianEuropeanEnvironmentjournalistArthurNesleninterviewedyouaboutBrexiton30/05/2016.1Youwereallegedtohavesaid:“Thebirdsandhabitatsdirectiveswouldgo,”(referringtotwokeypiecesofEuropeanenvironmentallaw).“Alotofthenationaldirectivestheyinstructedustoputinplacewouldstay.Butthedirectives’frameworkissorigidthatitisspirit-crushing.”Onpesticides,yousaid“theEU’sprecautionaryprincipleneededtobereformedinfavourofaUS-stylerisk-basedapproach,allowingfasterauthorisation.”Perhapsyouaren’tawarethatfarmers,theirfamiliesandruralcommunitiesaremostaffectedbythetoxiceffectsofpesticides?CHEMTrustpublishedaReportin2010:2AReviewoftheRolePesticidesPlayinSomeCancers:Children,FarmersandPesticideUsersatRisk?“StudiesofdeathregistriesinsomepartsoftheworldsuggestthatfarmersandagriculturalworkersaremorelikelythanthegeneralpopulationtodiefromseveralcancersincludingNHL,leukaemia,multiplemyeloma,prostatecancer,Hodgkin’sdisease,pancreaticcancerandbraincancer.SomestudiesstronglyindicateanassociationbetweenpesticideexposureandNHL,leukaemiaandprostatecancer.” OfcourseyouasMinisterofStateandtheNationalFarmers’Union(NFU)Executivesaren’toftenathometobeexposed,butwhataboutyourfamily,farmworkersandneighbours?GeorginaDowns3hasbeencampaigningsince2001forruralcommunitiesagainstsprayingShesays:“Therealityofcropsprayinginthecountrysideisnotmerelyrelatedtoexposuretooneindividualpesticideortoonesinglegroupofpesticides,asagriculturalpesticidesarerarelyusedindividuallybutcommonlysprayedinmixtures(cocktails)--quiteoftenamixturewillconsistof4or5differentproducts.Eachproductformulationinitselfcancontainanumberofdifferentactiveingredients,aswellasotherchemicals,suchassolvents,surfactantsandco-formulants(someofwhichcanhaveadverseeffectsintheirownright,beforeconsideringanypotentialsynergisticeffectsinamixture(s)).Studieshaveshownmixturesofpesticides(and/orotherchemicals)canhavesynergisticeffects.”IwrotetoMeurigRaymond,PresidentoftheNFUon22October2015:herepliedtomy13-pageOpenLetteron17/11/2015butitprobablywon’tbedistributedtoallNFUmembersThePresidentoftheNFUMeurigRaymondwrotetodefendtherightsoffarmerstousechemicalstoprotecttheircropseventhoughIhadinformedhimthattheyweredamagingthebrainsofchildreninBritain.Hereplied:“TheNFUfirmlybelievesthattechnologiessuchasadvancedplantbreeding,biotechnologyandchemicalcropprotectionareapositiveandessentialpartofBritishfarmingandfoodproduction.Therearesignificantchallengesinherentinprovidingsafe,affordableandhighqualityfoodinasustainablewayinthecontextofgrowingpopulations,pressureon

1https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/may/30/brexit-spirit-crushing-green-directives-minister-2http://www.chemtrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/CHEM-Trust-Report-Pesticides-Cancer-July-2010.pdf3http://www.pesticidescampaign.co.uk

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resources,volatilityandachangingclimate.Wemustthereforehaveallthetoolsintheboxtosourcesolutionstothesechallenges.TheNFUiscommittedtobasingitspoliciesonthemostrobustscientificevidenceandexpertisefromscientistsandregulatoryauthoritiesaroundtheworld.”IhadaskedformyOpenLettertobesenttoallmembersoftheNFU.However,inareplyfromDefraon6/11/2015RefDWOE000388966(ontheinstructionsofKevinWoodhouse),theCustomerContactUnitwrote:“Weacknowledgetheissuesthatyouhaveraised.HoweveritwillbefortheNFUtoconsiderwhethertheywishtodisseminateyourletter.”AreyouawarethattheMonsantoTribunalisbeingheldinTheHagueon14-16October?TheMonsantoTribunal4isaninternationalcivilsocietyinitiativetoholdMonsantoaccountableforhumanrightsviolations,forcrimesagainsthumanity,andforecocide.Eminentjudgeswillheartestimoniesfromvictims,anddeliveranadvisoryopinionfollowingproceduresoftheInternationalCourtofJustice.AparallelPeople'sAssemblyprovidestheopportunityforsocialmovementstorallyandplanforthefuturewewant.TheTribunalandPeople'sAssemblywilltakeplacebetween14and16October2016inTheHague,Netherlands.TheBritishGovernmenthasvotedwithMonsanto,theEuropeanFoodSafetyAuthorityandtheEuropeanCommissionandagainstIARC,tosaythatglyphosateisnotacarcinogenIna“stateofthescience”review5releasedtoday,PesticidesActionNetwork(PAN)Internationalpresentsalargebodyofresearchdocumentingtheadversehumanhealthandenvironmentalimpactsofglyphosateandglyphosate-basedherbicidesandunderscorestheneedforaglobalphase-out.Environmentalandhealthadvocatessaythemonographontheworld’smostwidelyusedherbicide,commonlyknownbyitsoriginaltradenameRoundup,shouldserveasawakeupcallforregulators,governmentsandusersaroundtheworld.TheInternationalCriminalCourtinTheHagueannouncedachangeinremit.6On15/09/2016:“Environmentaldestructionandland-grabscouldleadtogovernmentsandindividualsbeingprosecutedforcrimesagainsthumanitybytheInternationalCriminalCourtfollowingadecisiontoexpanditsremit.”TheStateofNatureintheUK2016is“prettyknackered”accordingtothefirstauthoroftheReport:theRepublicofIrelandandtheUSAlieevenfurtherbelowtheUK7AccordingtotheReport:“Around75%oftheUKismanagedforfoodproduction.HowwemanagethatlandiskeytothestateofNature.”InlobbyingtheEUtoprotectpesticidesinJune2014,8TheNationalFarmers’Union(NFU),theCropProtectionAssociation(CPA)andAgriculturalIndustriesConfederation(AIC)launchedHealthyHarvest–safeguardingthecropprotectiontoolbox.TheNFUandpesticidecompaniescontinuallydefendtheuseofpesticidesforeconomicreasonsandcomplainatanyattempttorestrictthe320attheirdisposal.CPA,AICandtheNFUcommissionedAndersonstowritea

4www.monsanto-tribunal.org5http://www.pan-uk.org/news/pan-international-releases-new-glyphosate-review6https://www.theguardian.com/global/2016/sep/15/hague-court-widens-remit-to-include-environmental-destruction-cases7http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/State%20of%20Nature%20UK%20report_%2020%20Sept_tcm9-424984.pdf8https://www.nfuonline.com/healthyharvest_final_digital/

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Report:Theeffectofthelossofplantprotectionproducts(i.e.pesticides)onUKAgricultureandHorticulturethatpredicteddireeconomiceffectsonUKfarmingifpesticideswererestricted.9WhatthenewPANReportsaysabouttheenvironmentalimpactsofglyphosate“Environmentalimpactsdetailedinthemonographarenolessconcerning,andincludeadverseeffectsonecosystemfunctioning,pollinationservices,biologicalcontrols,soilfertilityandcrophealth.Residuesarewidespreadintheenvironment,includinginrainwater,surfaceandgroundwaters,andthemarineenvironment.Glyphosatecanpersistinsomesoilsforupto3years;andthereissomeevidenceofbioaccumulation.Resistancetoglyphosateisnowrecordedin35weedspeciesandin27countries,mostlycausedbytherepeateduseofglyphosateinGEcrops,no-tillagriculture,andamenityuse.”

AlonghistoryofcooperationbetweentheBritishGovernmentandMonsantoagainstcivilsociety

Monsanto,theBritishGovernment,theEuropeanFoodSafetyAuthority(EFSA)andtheEUCommissionjoinedforcesinalawsuitagainstcivilsocietyin201310InMarch2013,agroupofnon-governmentalorganisationsfiledalawsuitattheCourtofJusticeoftheEuropeanUnionagainstanEUCommissiondecisionallowingtheuseofMonsanto´sgeneticallyengineeredsoybeans,Intacta,infoodandfeed(T-177/13-5).ThecomplainantsmaintainthatEFSAhasnotcarriedouttheriskassessmentsforthegeneticallyengineeredsoybeanaslegallyrequired.NowMonsanto,theBritishGovernment,theEuropeanFoodSafetyAuthority(EFSA)arealljoiningforcesincourttodefendtherighttoimportthetransgenicsoybeans.ThedefenceofthelawsuitwillbeledbyTestbiotech,aGermanbiotechnologyfirm.11ChristophThen,info@testbiotech.org,Tel+4915154638040,www.testbiotech.orgENSSER:www.ensser.orgFoundationonFutureFarming:www.zs-l.deManfred-Hermsen-Stiftung:www.m-h-s.orgSambucus:www.sambucus.orgSocietyforEcologicalResearch:www.oekologische-forschung.deGermanFamilyFarmersAssociation(ABL):www.abl-ev.deOpenLetterfromAmericatothePrimeMinisterDavidCameronwarningtheUKagainstGMcrops:handdeliveredNovember2014LivingwithGMOs:CitizentoCitizen12From57millioncitizensintheUStocitizens,politicians,andregulatorsintheUKandtherestoftheEUaboutthehazardsofgeneticallymodifiedcrops.We,theundersigned,aresharingourexperienceandwhatwehavelearnedwithyousothatyoudon’tmakeourmistakes.SignatoriesincludeNGOs,groups,academics,scientists,farmers,foodmanufactures,andhighprofileindividualsrepresentingsome57millionAmericans.9http://www.cropprotection.org.uk/media/89364/andersons_final_report.pdf10https://www.testbiotech.org/en/node/89811Testbiotechwasfoundedin2008byagroupofexpertsandregisteredasanon-profitorganisationtopromoteindependentresearchandpublicdebateontheimpactsofbiotechnology.Testbiotechisacentreofexpertiseconcernedmainlywiththeecological,socialandethicalconsequencesofmodernbiotechnology.ItisinFrankfurt.12http://www.theletterfromamerica.org/

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Extracts:“Arecentreviewfoundthatbetween1996and2011,farmerswhoplantedRoundupReadycropsused24%moreherbicidethannon-GMOfarmersplantingthesamecrops.ThispesticidetreadmillmeansthatinthelastdecadeintheUSatleast14newglyphosate-resistantweedspecieshaveemerged,andoverhalfofUSfarmsareplaguedwithherbicide-resistantweeds.”TheyoutlinedeightindependentpapersdescribingEnvironmentalHarmandsixabouttheThreattoHumanHealth.“Americansarereapingthedetrimentalimpactsofthisriskyandunprovenagriculturaltechnology.EUcountriesshouldtakenote:therearenobenefitsfromGMcropsgreatenoughtooffsettheseimpacts.Officialswhocontinuetoignorethisfactareguiltyofagrossderelictionofduty.Westronglyurgeyoutoresisttheapprovalofgeneticallymodifiedcrops,torefusetoplantthosecropsthathavebeenapproved,torejecttheimportand/orsaleofGM-containinganimalfeedsandfoodsintendedforhumanconsumption,andtospeakoutagainstthecorporateinfluenceoverpolitics,regulationandscience.”TheOpenLetterfromAmericawaspassedfromthePrimeMinister’sOfficetoDefra.ExtractsfromthereplyfromLorddeMauley,DefraMinister,“toDirectorsofBeyondGM.”ItwasclearthattheMinisterhadn’treadtheletter,orrealisedthatitwasanOpenLetterfrom60millioncitizensfromtheUS,butreliedonsigningDefra’sletterofdenial13Extract:“However,topickuponyourpointoncontamination,cross-pollinationis,again,anormalprocessbetweencompatibleplantspeciesandthereisnothingdifferentaboutGMcropsinthisrespect”...“TheUKGovernmentregardssafetyasparamountandwewillonlyagreetoplantingofGMcropsorthemarketingofGMfoodsifitisclearthatpeopleandtheenvironmentwillnotbeharmed.”TheEuropeanFoodSafetyAuthorityandtheEuropeanCommissionignoredtheadvicefrom60millionUScitizensandhavecontinuedtoauthorizeGMcropsforfoodandfeedPesticideresiduesinnon-organicfoodsSomeUKfarmersstartedsprayingglyphosateoncropspre-harvestin198014atthesuggestionofascientistworkingforMonsanto15andongrasslandin1985ontheadviceofanotherMonsantoscientist.16Defrastartedpublishingpesticideresiduesinfoodsin2000.17“Residuesofchlormequat18glyphosateandpirimiphos-methyl19werefound(inbread).Defrasaid:“Thesepesticidesarecommonlyusedoncerealcrops,andresidueshavebeenfoundinothercerealproducts,thereforethesefindingsarenotunexpected.Noneoftheresiduesfoundwereofconcernforconsumerhealth.”WhentheChemicalsRegulationDirectorate(CRD)HeadofRegulatoryPolicyrepliedon28/02/2014todefendtheauthorisationofglyphosate,hetold

13http://beyond-gm.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/BGM_Defra-letter_151214.pdf14http://www.hgca.com/media/185527/is02-pre-harvest-glyphosate-application-to-wheat-and-barley.pdf15O'KeeffeMG.ThecontrolofAgropyronrepensandbroad-leavedweedspre-harvestofwheatandbarleywiththeisopropylaminesaltofglyphosate;1980.pp.53–60.ProceedingsofBritishCropProtectionConference-Weeds.16StrideCD,EdwardsRV,SeddonJC.Swarddestructionbyapplicationofglyphosatebeforecuttingorgrazing;1985.pp.771–778.BritishCropProtectionConference–Weeds7B–6.17http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/industries/pesticides/advisory-groups/PRiF/about-PRiF18Chlormequat,aplantgrowthregulatorwaspresentconsistentlythroughout.19pirimiphos-methyl,isanorganophosphateinsecticideforuseinstorage.Theapprovalwasrevokedon24/03/2011,butitwasonlyfinallybanned31/03/2013,presumablytoallowstockstobeusedup.

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methatthecapabilitytodetectindividualpesticidesinfoodhadincreasedfrom150in2003to393in2012.Hestated:“Inthe2012Report,althoughtherewerealargenumberofresiduesfoundinbread,noneofthesewereataleveltosuggestarisktoconsumerhealth.”However,hefailedtoreplytomyquestionastowhytheEuropeanFoodSafetyAuthority(EFSA)wasregularlyincreasingtheMaximumResidueLevels(MRLs)ofglyphosateinfoodsattherequestofMonsantotoaccommodatetheirpracticeofdesiccationofcropsandtoprotecttheirimportsintoEurope.EFSA’sReasonedOpinionPanelincreasesMRLsattherequestofindustryMonsantoEuropeaskedEFSAtosettheimporttoleranceforglyphosateinlentils“inordertoaccommodatetheauthoriseddesiccationuseofglyphosateinlentilsintheUSandCanada”from0.1mg/kgto10mg/kg20(i.e.100times:January2012).EFSAhadgrantedsimilarlyelevatedMRLsforglyphosateonwheatandGMsoya.Monsantoconvictedoffalseclaimsin19961996TheAttorneyGeneraloftheStateofNewYork,ConsumerFraudsandProtectionBureau,EnvironmentalProtectionBureaufinedMonsantoforbeingguiltyof:FalseadvertisingbyMonsantoregardingthesafetyofRoundup®herbicide(glyphosate).Inadvertisementsitimpliedthatitcouldbeusedinwater.21Monsantoclaimedthatglyphosate&GMcropshaveapositiveeffectonwildlifeandbiodiversity:“itcanbeusedoninvasiveweedsaroundwaterwaysandlakes”Despitehavingbeenconvictedoffalseclaimsin1996,Monsantorepeatedsimilarbutworseliesinadocumentpublished2010entitled:“TheagronomicbenefitsofglyphosateinEurope:BenefitspermarketuseFebruary2010:”22Itstatedthatglyphosatehasan“excellentsafetyprofiletooperators,thepublicandtheenvironment.”Onpage4Monsantomakesafurtherclaimabouttheuseofglyphosatetoincreasewildlifeandbiodiversity:“Useofglyphosateinsteadofmechanicalweedcontroltechniquesonnon-cropped/amenitylandpreserveswildlifelikesmallmammalsandbirds.AdoptionofConservationagricultureencouragesearthwormsandotherinvertebratesaswellasbirds.Judicioususeofglyphosatetocontrolexcessiveplantgrowthandinvasiveweedsonoraroundwaterwaysandlakesencourageswildfowlandmuchotherwildlife.”AnadditionalclaimwasmadeforGMCrops(p.4):“Useofglyphosatetolerantcropsallowslatercontrolofweedsprovidingearlyfoodsourcesformanyinvertebratesandbirdsandthusincreasesanimalnumbers.”AnentiredepartmentinMonsantoisdevotedtodiscreditingscienceagainstGMOs23“Forthefirsttime,aMonsantoemployeeadmitsthatthereisanentiredepartmentwithinthecorporationwiththesimpletaskof‘discrediting’and‘debunking’scientistswhospeakoutagainstGMOs.TheDiscreditBureauwillnotbefoundontheirofficialwebsite.”Glyphosate:fourdifferentpatentshavebeenfiledbyMonsanto(andgranted)intheUS

20http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2550.htm21http://www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/Monsanto-v-AGNYnov96.htm22http://www.monsanto.com/products/Documents/glyphosate-background-materials/Agronomic%20benefits%20of%20glyphosate%20in%20Europe.pdf23http://naturalsociety.com/monsanto-employee-admits-an-entire-department-exists-to-discredit-scientists/

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• Asachelatorofheavymetals(usedtocleanboilers)andawettingagentin196124• Asaherbicidein196825• Asanantibioticin200226• Asananti-protozoalagentin200327

“Antibiotic-resistantdiseasesposean'apocalyptic'threattohumans.”Vets,farmersandGPswereblamedforoveruseofantibiotics.28In2013,theChiefMedicalOfficertoldMPsthatthisissueshouldbeaddedtothenationalriskregisterofcivilemergencies.InMarch2014Iwrotetoinformherthatglyphosatehadbeenpatentedasanantibiotic.Ifinallyhadareply:“Giventhedetailedregulatoryregimeforplantprotectionproducts,thisisthemostappropriateplacefortheseissuestobeconsidered.”

ThebiodiversityhasfinallycrashedintheUK(andtheUSandtheRepublicofIreland)duetomassiveandincreasinguseofpesticides

“Onpesticides”,youasMinisterhadsaid,“theEU’sprecautionaryprincipleneededtobereformedinfavourofaUS-stylerisk-basedapproach,allowingfasterauthorization”.HowmanymorepesticidesdoesBritishfarmingneed?TheHeadofRegulationoftheChemicalsRegulationDirectorate(CRD)hadsaidin2012,“thecapabilitytodetectindividualpesticidesinfoodhadrisento393.”HastheMinisterbeenbriefedbyDefracivilservantsonTheUKStateofNatureReport2016?MarkEatonoftheRSPB,theReport’sfirstauthorsaid:“Thereportincludesanew“biodiversityintactnessindex”,whichanalysesthelossofspeciesovercenturies.TheUKhaslostsignificantlymorenatureoverthelongtermthantheglobalaveragewiththeUKthe29thlowestoutof218countries.“Itisquiteshockingwherewestandcomparedtotherestoftheworld,evencomparedtootherwesternEuropeancountries:FranceandGermanyarequiteawayaboveusintherankings,”saidEaton.“Theindexgivesanideaofwherewehavegottooverthecenturies,andweareprettyknackered.”BiodiversityIntactnessIndexThisisalinktoananimatedpictorialrepresentationbutitisnoteasilyfindable.29“Of218countriesassessed,theUKisranked189:itis29thlowestoutof218:CountriesbelowaretheRepublicofIreland,USA,HongKongandMacao.ThismeansthatnatureisfaringworseintheUKthaninmostothercountries.Around75%oftheUKismanagedforfoodproduction.HowwemanagethatlandiskeytothestateofNature.UK165speciesareconsideredcriticallyendangeredandlikelytogoextinct.England109speciesarecriticallyendangeredandlikelytogoextinct.

24http://www.google.com/patents/US316063225http://www.google.com/patents/US345567526http://www.google.com/patents/US777173627http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7771736.PN.&OS=PN/7771736&RS=PN/777173628http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/jan/23/antibiotic-resistant-diseases-apocalyptic-threat29https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/whatwedo/stateofnature2016

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Scotland65speciesarecriticallyendangeredandarelikelytogoextinct.NorthernIreland45speciesarecriticallyendangeredandlikelytogoextinct.Wales41speciesarecriticallyendangeredandlikelytogoextinct.”MostUKfarmerswhomanage‘75%ofUKland’aredrowningtheircropsinpesticidesTheNationalFarmers’Union(NFU),theCropProtectionAssociation(CPA)andtheAgriculturalIndustriesConfederation(AIC)combinetolobbytheEUnottorestrictthe320+pesticidesavailabletothem.Thepublicationiscalled:HEALTHYHARVEST.30ThecountriesthathaveevenlowerBiodiversityIntactnessIndicesaresimilarlyworkingwiththeAgrochemicalCorporations.ThesearetheRepublicofIrelandandtheUSA.CompletedenialthatfarmingwasresponsibleItwasthereforeastoundingtohearthecompletedenialoftheNFUandDefraaboutTheStateofNatureReport.NFUvice-presidentGuySmithsaid“intensificationoffarminghadendedintheearly1990s.”thatfarmers“wereusinglessfertiliserandpesticidesthanever”andaspokeswomanfromDefrasaid:“Protectingourpreciousenvironmentandsupportingourworld-leadingfarmers,acornerstoneofoureconomy,willformanimportantpartofoutEUexitnegotiations.”ThestatisticsforpesticideusageproducedbyFerashowexactlytheopposite.Isn’tDefrasupposedtobeadvisingtheUKGovernment?Resultsareoutforspeciesthathavedeclinedinsummer2016comparedwith2015FromtheButterflyConservationTrustBigButterflyCount31“Itwasaprettygoodsummer,withaboveaveragetemperaturesandyetbutterfliesonthewholefaredbadly.Overhalfofthebigbutterflycounttargetspeciesdecreasedin2016comparedwiththepreviousyear.The'blues'didbadly,withSmallCopperrecordingitslowestnumberssincethebigbutterflycountbeganandbothCommonBlueandHollyBluehalvedinnumberscomparedwithsummer2015.ThiswasparticularlydisappointingforHollyBlue,whichhadanexcellent2015andnumbersinspring2016alsoappearedhigh.ThestunningPeacock,withitsbeautifuleye-spotwingmarkingsthatcanscareoffwould-bepredatorssuchasBlueTits,decreasedforthethirdsummerinarow.Itsnumbershavenowdroppedfromanaverageof3.6individualspercountin2013tojust0.5percountin2016,asix-folddecreaseoverthreeyears.SmallTortoiseshellnumbersweredownonceagaintoo,fallingby47%from2015levels,andeventheComma,oneofthebutterflysuccessstoriesofthepastfewdecades,sufferedapoorsummer.Itsnumbersweredown46%yearonyear,resultinginitslowestabundanceinthesevenyearsofbigbutterflycount.Itwasallchangeatthetopofthebigbutterflycountchartin2016,withGatekeeper,themostabundantspeciesin2015'scount,sufferinga40%decreaseandfinishinginfourthplace.Anaverageofjust1.5Gatekeepersseenpercountin2016wasthelowestabundanceofthisspeciessincebigbutterflycountbegan.”Toads“Toadnumbershavefallenbymorethantwo-thirdsin30years,accordingtoastudyusing

30HealthyHarvest:TheimpactoflosingplantprotectionproductsonUKfoodandplantproduction.http://www.nfuonline.com/assets/3059731http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/2016mainresults?utm_source=Butterfly%20Conservation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=7591230_October%202016&utm_content=BBC%20results&dm_i=DGT,4IPFI,KNFC3B,GQ32W,1

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datafromvolunteerpatrolssetuptohelptheamphibianscrossroads.”32HowRoundup®poisonedmyNatureReserve33Wehavedonea10-year(2006-2016)observationalstudyofbiodiversityonasmallNatureReserveexposedtoultra-lowdoseRoundup®sprayedonJapaneseknotweedoutsideourarea.JapaneseknotweedhasbecomeaRoundup-resistantsuper-weedandjustgrowsmorestronglyeachyearsprayisapplied(likesuper-weedsinGMcroppingsystemsintheUS).IchallengedEFSAabouttheGermanRapporteurMemberState’sBfRconclusionthatglyphosateisnotharmfultotheenvironment.DrBernhardUrlandDrJoséTarazonaignoredthisevidence.TheEuropeanCommissionre-licensedglyphosateforafurther18monthswhiletheEuropeanChemicalAgency(ECHA)gavetheiropinion.ProfGilles-EricSéralini,oneoftheorganisersoftheMonsantoTribunal,suggestedthatIsendawrittentestimonytotheJudges.In2002WWF-UKplacedanadvertisementofababysuperimposedbyamessage:WHOCARESWHERECHEMICALSENDUP?ThiswasfollowedbyaReport:CONTAMINATION34TheindustrycomplainedtotheAdvertisingStandardsAgency(ASA).TheASAfoundWWF’sscientificresearchtobeabovereproachonallfrontsandrejectedeverytechnicalcomplaint.Butdespitebeingruledfactuallyaccurateandbeinginthepublicinterest,theadvertisementwasneverthelessbannedonthegroundsthatitwas‘undulyalarming’tothepublic.“GiventheconcernexpressedbyinternationalorganizationssuchastheEuropeanCommissionandtheWorldHealthOrganizationaboutthepotentialharmfromman-madechemicals,thisreportmakesunnervingreading.Wearefacinganuncontrolledglobalexperimentwherehumansandwildlifearebeingexposedtoman-madesyntheticchemicalsthathavethepotentialtoharm.Itistimetowakeuptothisthreatandensurethatexposuretosuchchemicalsiscontrolled–and,wherenecessary,thattheyarebanned.”In2016theEuropeanCommissionnolongerCARESWHERECHEMICALSENDUP:theEUCommission,EFSAandtheUKgovernmentarecolludingwiththePesticidesIndustryThemeasureofpublicsuspicioninEuropewassuchthattheEUCommissionreceivedmorethan1.5millioncitizenpetitionsdemandingtheynotapproveglyphosate.WhenitwasclearthatsomeEuropeanCommissionersweresecretlyplanningtore-approveitfor15years,veteranUSjournalistWilliamEngdahlreportedinanarticle:TheAmazingGlyphosateRevoltGrows:35“TodatetheEUCommissionhasreceivedastaggering1.5millioncitizenpetitionsdemandingtheynotre-approveglyphosate.TheoppositiontoEUCommissionapprovalofglyphosatehastakenonaself-expandingcharacterandthathastheagribusinessweed-killercartelalarmed.Theprocessisexposingtothegeneralpublic,forthefirsttimeinsuchaclearmanner,thedegreeofcorruptioninnotonlyBrusselsbutalsointheso-calledscientificbodiesthatadviseitonwhatissafeandwhatnot.… Soagroupofmanifestlyimmoralscientists(Boobis&Moretto)ledtheJointFAO/WHOMeetingonPesticideResidues(JMPR).”VitoBuonsante,alawyerfortheClientEarthgroup,inreferencetothesuspiciously-timedFAO/WHOreportstated,“Thereisaclearconflictofinteresthereifthereviewofthesafetyofglyphosateis

32https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/06/uk-common-toad-numbers-down-two-thirds-in-30-years33http://www.i-sis.org.uk/How_Roundup_Poisoned_My_Nature_Reserve.php34http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/biomonitoringresults.pdf35http://journal-neo.org/2016/05/23/the-amazing-glyphosate-revolt-grows/

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carriedoutbyscientiststhatdirectlygetmoneyfromindustry.”

TheAgrochemicalIndustryhasusedtheUKasatest-bedforitsagrochemicalsjustastheislandsofHawaiibecameatest-bedforGEcrops

InBritaintheAgrochemicalIndustryhasbeenadvisingfarmersonchemicalssinceWW2:butGEcropsareplannedfortheFutureofFoodandFarming.36InHawaii:“However,theplantationeralegacyoflandconcentration,intensiveuseoftoxicpesticides,andagricultureforexportlivesonwiththegeneticallyengineeredseedcropindustry,towhichwenowturn.TheseedindustrytransitionedrapidlyfromconventionaltoGEcropsbeginninginthe1990s,andtodaythevastmajorityofseedsproducedonHawai‘iaregeneticallyengineered.”37ExtractsfromSummaryofCenterforFoodSafetyPesticideReportforHawaii:AgrochemicalcorporationshaveboughtlandonHawaiiforintensivetestingofGECropsthatarenotrelevanttolocalneedsHEALTHIMPACTSOFPESTICIDEEXPOSURE(SECTION6)Farmworkersandchildrenareatgreatestriskfrompesticides,duetohighexposureandgreatersensitivity,respectively.Fetuses(viamaternalexposure)arethemostvulnerable.Inamajorreviewofthemedicalliterature,theAmericanAcademyofPediatricsfoundstrongevidencelinkingpesticideexposureofkidstochildhoodcancers,neurobehavioralandcognitivedeficits,adversebirthoutcomes,andasthma.Manyoftheimplicatedpesticides(e.g.chlorpyrifos,atrazine)areheavilyusedinHawai‘i(6.2).Adultsexposedtopesticideshavehigherriskofvariouscancers,Parkinson’sdisease,depression,andreproductiveproblems,suchaslowspermcounts(6.1).Chlorpyrifos(Dow)isstillregisteredforuseintheUK:in2014itwasusedon106,908haLongitudinalbirthcohortstudiesintheUSshowedthatprenatalexposuretochlorpyrifos,anorganophosphorusinsecticide,isassociatedwithimpairedneurocognitivedevelopmentinchildrenwhenassessedat3yearsand7yearsandmostrecentlywithdecrementsinworkingmemoryatage7.Inadults,areviewof14studies(lookingat1600participants)hasshownarelationshipbetweenlow-levelexposuretoorganophosphatesandimpairedneurobehaviouralfunctioning.Ittargetsmemory,informationprocessingspeed,theabilitytoplanandhaveabstractthoughts.However,areviewbyaDowemployeetogetherwithindividualsfromExponentInc.concludedthat“exposuretospecificpesticidesduringcriticalperiodsofbraindevelopmentandneurobehavioraloutcomesisnotcompelling.38”Syngenta’sherbicidesatrazineandsimazinewerebannedinEuropein2004Syngenta’striazineherbicides,atrazineandsimazine,areprimeexamplesofhowSyngenta’scontrolhasbeenexertedovermanyyearsinBritain.BoththesechemicalwerebannedinEuropein2004(2004/248/EC)withexceptionsforafewcountries.TheUKhadappliedforadispensationforbothatrazineandsimazine.Dispensationwastobelimitedtoaperiodnolongerthan12monthstoallowexistingstockstobeused,innomorethanonegrowingseason.36https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/288329/11-546-future-of-food-and-farming-report.pdf37http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/files/pesticidereportfull_86476.pdf38http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23777200

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TheUKwaspermittedtouseatrazineonsweetcornandforestryonly,buttheyhadtoensuretheprotectionofhumanhealthandtheenvironment.Defraignoredtheconditionsforbothherbicides,whichtheycontinuedtouseinsimilaramountsuntiltheendof2008/2009respectively.Inaddition,theywereusedonmanycropsoutsidethosespecifiedbytheEU.TheEnvironmentAgencyGroundwaterDatabasehadrecordedamaximumconcentrationofatrazineof13.04µg/l.Thatis130timestheEUlegallimitforgroundwater(2004/248/EC).39InApril2012,TheDailyMailandMailonSundayrevealedthatninebabiesbornover12yearsinonestreetinKenthadthesamemajorcongenitalanomaly, gastroschisis.40Gastroschisisisamajorcongenitaldefectintheabdominalwall,almostalwaystotherightofthenavel,throughwhichtheabdominalcontentsfreelyprotrude.Aninvestigationwascarriedoutwhichreportedon05/03/2012.TheDirectorofPublicHealthforKentclaimedthatthenumberofcasesdidn’tamounttoa“cluster”andexcludedatrazineasacause. Syngentasaid:“Thereisnoprovenlinkbetweenatrazineandthesedefects.Atrazinedoesnotcausedevelopmentalabnormalities.”ThesamequantitiesofatrazinewereusedonUKcroplandfrom1997until2008;authorisationwasnotrestricted.Onlyin2009,didtheamountsappliedstarttodecreaseIn2008,inapresentationtothePesticidesForum,theEnvironmentAgencyhadshowedthatatrazineanditsmetaboliteshadbeenfoundinmorethan25%ofsamplesites.IntheUSgastroschisishadbeenassociatedwithatrazine.Gastroschisis:amajorcongenitaldefectoftheabdominalwallwasalsoseeninHawaiiSidneyJohnson,apediatricsurgeonattheKapiolaniMedicalCenterforWomenandChildrenwhooverseesallchildrenborninHawaiiwithmajorbirthdefectsandoperatesonmany,sayshe’sbeenthinkingaboutpesticidesalotlately.Thereason:he’snoticedthatthenumberofbabiesbornherewiththeirabdominalorgansoutside,arareconditionknownasgastroschisis,hasgrownfromthreeayearinthe1980stoaboutadozennow.41Atrazineisstillusedextensivelyinmanycountries,includingtheUSandAustraliaandSyngentarelentlesslypursuesanyonewhosaysitisharmful.42AustraliahadasimilarclusterofcasesofgastroschisistotheUKinasmallcommunityinNSWin2011butindustryandtheAPVMAdeniedalinkTheglobalincidenceofgastroschisisisonein5,000,butdatafromtheAustralianBureauofStatisticsputstheincidenceforNSW'sNorthernRiversregionatonein950births.InthepastthreeyearstherehavebeenatleastsevenbabiesbornwiththedefectaroundthecommunityofWadeville.43Inapopulation-basedstudyof122casesinWesternAustraliabetween1980and2001therewasasustainedincreaseinincidenceofgastroschisisandasignificantfetaldeathrateinthethirdtrimester.44In2010,researchersattheUniversityofWashingtonreleasedalandmarkstudyanalysingalmost20yearsofmedicalandagriculturaldataforEasternWashington.

39http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/14557/1/OR11013.pdf40http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2142106/One-street-Nine-babies-born-horrific-rare-deformity-And-troubling-question--mothers-poisoned-weedkiller.html41https://alethonews.wordpress.com/2015/08/26/hawaii-sees-10-fold-increase-in-birth-defects-after-becoming-gm-corn-testing-grounds/42www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/02/10/140210fa_fact_aviv43http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-05-14/birth-defect-cluster-sparks-investigation/271554644http://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(03)00819-6/abstract

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ItlinkedtherisingrateofgastroschisistoexposuretoAtrazine-contaminatedwaters,particularlyforwomenwhoconceivedinspring-thepeaksprayingtime.Another2010studyfromtheUniversityofCaliforniafoundonein10malefrogsexposedtoAtrazineturnedintofemales,while75percentwererenderedsterile.StudiesdonebythemanufacturerofAtrazinedidnotcometothesameconclusions.TheAustralianPesticidesandVeterinaryMedicinesAuthority(APVMA)istheregulatorofpesticides."TheAPVMAhasreviewedindetailscientificstudiesthatsuggestpossiblelinksbetweenAtrazineandgastroschisisandAtrazineandHermaphrodisminfrogs.Whilethestudiesareinteresting,theydonotsatisfyinternationallyacceptedstandardsofscientificrigour,relevanceandreliability,whichregulatorsrelyupontomakedecisions,"theAPVMAsaidinastatement.CSIROadmittedthatAustraliaworkswithglobalcorporationsformarketaccessIn1992,accordingtoaninterviewwithJohnStocker,CommonwealthScientificandIndustrialResearchOrganisation'sformerchiefexecutive,“Workingwiththetransnationalsmakesalotofsense,inthecontextofmarketaccess…ThereareveryfewAustraliancompaniesthathavedevelopedmarketaccessintheUnitedStates,inEuropeandinJapan,theworld’smajormarketplaces.Yes,wedofindthatitisoftenthebeststrategytogetintobedwiththesecompanies.”45TheAPVMAwasalsoestablishedin1992atthesametime.BirthdefectsandGMOsinHawaii:Pesticidesinparadise46CarlaNelson,CalifornianpediatriciansaysthatinWaimea,therehavebeenatleastninebabiesbornwithcongenitalcardiacmalformationsinfiveyears;that’smorethan10timesthenationalrate,accordingtoanalysisbylocaldoctors.TheyfindthemselvesintheeyeofastormswirlingforthepastthreeyearsaroundtheHawaiianarchipelagooverwhetheramajorcashcroponfourofthesixmainislands,cornthat’sbeengeneticallymodifiedtoresistpesticides,isasourceofprosperity,asthecompaniesclaim–orofbirthdefectsandillnesses,asthedoctorsandmanyotherssuspect.BirthdefectsinanimalsinMontanacorrelateswithglyphosateusageoncropsandwithbirthdefectsinhumansArecentstudybyHoyetal.foundalarmingincreasesincongenitalmalformationsinwildlifeinMontanathatHoyhasbeendocumentingforthepast19years.SimilarbirthdefectshaveoccurredinhumansintheUSA.Theirgraphsillustratinghumandiseasepatternsoverthetwelve-yearperiodcorrelateremarkablywellwiththerateofglyphosateusageoncorn,soyandwheatcrops,whichhasincreaseddueto“Roundup®Ready”crops.Whiletheanimals’exposuretotheherbicideisthroughfood,waterandair,theauthorsbelievethathumanexposureispredominantlythroughfood,asthemajorityofthepopulationdoesnotresidenearagriculturalfieldsandforests.Theyconclude:“Ourover-relianceonchemicalsinagricultureiscausingirreparableharmtoallbeingsonthisplanet,includingtheplanetherself.Mostofthesechemicalsareknowntocauseillness,andtheyhavelikelybeencausingillnessesformanyyears.

45http://powerbase.info/index.php/Commonwealth_Scientific_and_Industrial_Research_Organisation46http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/23/hawaii-birth-defects-pesticides-gmo

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Butuntilrecently,theherbicideshaveneverbeensprayeddirectlyonfoodcrops,andneverinthismassivequantity.Wemustfindanotherway”.47ThePesticideConspiracy:eveninthe1970stheAgriculturalIndustrywasgivenmassivepowerbytheBritishGovernmentRobertvandenBosch,writingin1978inThePesticideConspiracy:48“Ifoneconsidershowdangerousthesechemicalsare,onewouldsupposethatitwouldbeGovernmentpolicytominimizetheirusebyeverypossiblemeans.HowevertheRoyalCommissiononEnvironmentalPollutionnotes,‘thereis...nosuchpolicyintheUK,nordoesthepossibleneedforitappeartohavebeenconsidered,notwithstandingthegreatincreasesintheuseofthesechemicals.”TheAgrochemicalIndustry,onthecontrary,seemstobeundertheimpressionitisGovernmentpolicytoencouragethemaximumuseofpesticides.ThusaccordingtotheAgrochemicalindustry,of367,000acresofpotatoesgrowninthiscountryin1976,310,000acresaretreatedwithherbicides,114,000acreswithgranularinsecticidesandnematocides,218,000acreswithfoliarinsecticidesand265,000acreswithfungicides.49Inthiswayoneacreofpotatoes,theindustryboasts,canbetreatedfrom2-11timeswithdifferentpesticides.”VandenBoschalsocondemnstheUKforaerialspraying.“Whatisparticularlyshamefulinthiscountryistheprevalenceofaerialspraying.Onemillionacresofagriculturallandaresprayedeachyear,whichinvolves34,000flights.Controlsonthispracticearepracticallynon-existent...norastheRoyalCommissionpointsout,doesthereappeartobeanycontrolsonthetypeofsprayingequipment.”BritainstillusesaerialsprayingasderogationfromtheEUrecommendations.SustainableUseofPesticides21October2009:DIRECTIVE2009/128/ECOFTHEEUROPEANPARLIAMENT50WhatistheEUDirectiveAdviceandtheUKGovernment’sResponseonArticle9AerialSpraying?EUDirectiveAdvice:Aerialsprayingofpesticideshasthepotentialtocausesignificantadverseimpactsonhumanhealthandtheenvironment,inparticularfromspraydrift.Thereforeaerialsprayingshouldgenerallybeprohibitedwithderogationspossiblewhereitrepresentsclearadvantagesintermsofreducedimpactsonhumanhealthandtheenvironmentincomparisonwithothersprayingmethods,orwheretherearenoviablealternatives,providedthatthebestavailabletechnologytoreducedriftisused.UKGovernmentResponse:Wedonotconsiderthatresponsibleapplicationofpesticidesbyaerialsprayingposesanunacceptablerisktohumanhealthandtheenvironment,andconsequentlywewillusethederogation.WebelievethattheexistinglegislationcontrolregimeprovidesabasisformeetingtheDirectiveandthiswillbeadaptedtoensurethecontinuationofproperlyregulatedaerialapplicationsthroughaconsent-basedapproach.TheRoyalCommissiononEnvironmentalPollutionwasabolishedon1April2011,aspartoftheCoalitionGovernment'sspendingcuts.IthadbeencreatedunderRoyalWarrantin1970toadvisetheQueen,Government,Parliamentandthepubliconenvironmentalissues.

47http://www.esciencecentral.org/journals/the-high-cost-of-pesticides-human-and-animal-diseases-2375-446X-1000132.php?aid=5647148VandenBosch,R.ThePesticideConspiracy:USADoubleday&Company(1978):Dorchester,UK:PrismPress(1980).49Industry’sStatistics:BritishAgrochemicalAssociationLondon197650http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32009L0128

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FoodandEnvironmentResearchAgency(FERA)surveyofpesticides1988to2014TheseindicatethatPesticideResiduesonBritishfoodareincreasingannually.Asurveyofpesticide(activesubstances)usageonOilSeedRape(OSR)1988-2014showedthatthenumberofactivesubstancesappliedhadincreasedfrom5in1988to15in2014(Fig1)andthenumberoftreatmentshadincreasedfrom5in1988to12in2014.(Fig2)In2014,herbicideswereusedon98.4%OSRandseedtreatmentson95.8%.In2014glyphosatewasusedonWheat(601,330kg)Winterbarley,Springbarley,Oats,Rye,Triticale,Oilseedrape(577,969kg),Linseed,Allpotatoes,Peas,Beans,Sugarbeet,withatotalof1,765,465kgglyphosateonallcrops.Thetotalweightofpesticides(herbicidesanddesiccants,fungicides,growthregulators,molluscicidesandrepellants,insecticidesandseedtreatments)appliedtofarmlandin2014wasinexcessof16,000tonnes.Pesticideusagestatisticsshowmassiveincreaseinglyphosatebetween2012and2014Ferastatisticsshowedthatin2012theareatreatedbyglyphosatewas1,750,000ha.Thishadincreasedin2014to2,250,000ha.GuyGagen,ChiefArableAdviserfortheNFU,saidincreasedglyphosateuse(uponethirdsince2012,toanareathesizeofWales)wasprobablyduetotreatmentof‘blackgrass.’51Blackgrassisaglyphosate-resistantsuper-weedjustlikeJapaneseknotweed.Herbicideresistantblackgrass,firstseenin1982(twoyearsafterfarmersstartedsprayingglyphosatepre-harvest)andisnowfoundon16,000farmsin34counties.GagensaidthatsprayingwheatcouldresultintracesofglyphosateendingupinbreadsoldinsupermarketsbuttheamountwaswellbelowthemaximumresiduelevelsetbytheEU.ADefraspokesmansaid:“Thereareextensiveregulationsinplacesothatpeopleandtheenvironmentareprotectedfrompesticides.TheapprovalofglyphosateforuseacrossEuropeisbeingreviewedbytheEUCommission.”

Fig.1PESTICIDES:NumberofactivesubstancesusedonOilSeedRapeintheUKbetween1988and2014:BykindpermissionofJohnHoar,HampshireBeekeeper’sSprayLiaisonOfficer.FiguressuppliedbyFERA

51http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/environment/article4528297.ece

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Fig.2PESTICIDESTIMESTREATED:usedonOilSeedRapeintheUKbetween1988and2014:BykindpermissionofJohnHoar,HampshireBeekeepersSprayLiaisonOfficer.FiguressuppliedbyFERA

Regulatorsaremeasuringmanypesticidesinwaterandsoil–butnotglyphosateortheneonicotinoids;itislefttoindependentscientists

Sciencerequiresthatmeasurementsaremade;evenwithglyphosateandtheneonicotinoidsTheCRD,EFSA,USEPAandtheAVPMAclaimtheyaredoing‘soundscience’.However,theyaremeasuringmanypesticidesingroundwaterBUTNOTglyphosateorthesystemicneonicotinoids.IaskedtheChairmanoftheEnvironmentAgencyinMay2013iftheEAcouldmeasurethem.DrJoKennedyrepliedonLordSmith’sbehalfon1stMay2013.Withregardtoglyphosate,shereplied:“TheGCMSscanisnotabletomeasureglyphosate,andglyphosateisnotpartoftheroutinesuiteofsubstancesmonitoredfornationallyacrossournetwork.Themainreasonforthisisthatglyphosateanalysisisrelativelycostlyanditwasfeltthattheadditionalcostsofanalysiscouldnotbejustified.IflocalglyphosateproblemshavebeenidentifiedingroundwatertheEnvironmentAgencycancarryoutoperationalmonitoringatalocallevel.”Thesearethemostwidelyusedherbicides/pesticidesintheworld.Bothglyphosateandneonicotinoidinsecticidesresidueshavebeenmeasuredinhumansandanimalsandinnon-organicfood,water,airandrainbyindependentscientistsallovertheworld.FarmersinBritainareapplyingthemblindlyyearonyear.Thelevelsareincreasingintheenvironmenteachyearandcanbecorrelatedwithlossesofbiodiversity.ManyindependentsourceshavemeasuredglyphosateintheenvironmentIn2011,theUSGeologicalSurvey(USGS)publishedthefirstreportontheambientlevelsofglyphosate,themostwidelyusedherbicideintheUnitedStates,anditsmajordegradationproduct,aminomethylphosphonicacid(AMPA),inairandraininMississippiandIowaintwogrowingseasons.52In2013,scientistsinArgentinadidthesame.“Agriculturalproductionisfundamentallybasedonatechnologicalpackagethatcombinesno-tillandglyphosateinthecultivationoftransgeniccrops.Transgeniccrops(soybean,maizeandcotton)occupy23million

52http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21128261

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hectares.Thismeansthatglyphosateisthemostemployedherbicideinthecountry,where180–200millionlitersareappliedeveryyear.”53AnotherreportfromtheUSGSin2014:54“ThemostcomprehensiveresearchtodateonenvironmentalglyphosatelevelsexposesthewidespreadcontaminationofsoilandwaterintheUS,aswellasitswatertreatmentsystem.Lookingatawiderangeofgeographicallocations,researchersfromtheUSGeologicalSurvey(USGS)analysed3,732waterandsedimentsamplesand1,081qualityassurancesamplescollectedbetween2001and2010from38statesintheUSandthedistrictofColombia.Theyfoundglyphosatein39.4%ofsamples(1,470outof3,732)anditsmetaboliteaminomethylphosphonicacid(AMPA)in55%ofsamples.TheyconcludedthatGlyphosateanditsdegradationproductAMPAoccurfrequentlyandwidelyinU.S.soils,surfacewater,groundwater,andprecipitation.”TheUSDAandtheUSDAARS(AgriculturalResearchService)areallowingMonsantoandDuPont’sGMcropstoproducebiologicaldeserts–surelytheymusthavenoticed?CraigChildsconfirmsitinhisbookApocalypticPlanet:FieldGuidetotheFutureoftheEarth.55TheStateofIowawasjustoneareainwhichtheUSGeologicalSurveyreportedwidespreadcontaminationofsoil,air,rainwaterandriverwaterwithglyphosateanditslonger-actingmetaboliteAMPA(α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionicacid).56GrundyCountyIowawaswhereCraigChildsspentalongweekendinamonocultureofGM“Roundup®Ready”cornlookingforwildlife."Ilistenedandheardnothing,nobird,noclickofinsect.MrOwenwasthefarmerwhohadgivenuspermissiontobackpackacrosshiscornfields.HegrewacombinationofDuPontandMonsantostock.WewereinDuPontnow.Itdidn’tlookanydifferenttome.”RobertKrulwichblog:57Cornfarmerschampioncorn.Anythingthatmighteatcorn,hurtcorn,bothercorn,iskilled.Theircornisbredtofightpests.Thegroundissprayed.Thestalksaresprayedagain.So,Craigwondered,"WhatwillIfind?"Theansweramazedme.Hefoundalmostnothing.Therewerenobees.Theair,theground,seemedvacant.Hefoundoneant"sosmallyoucouldn'tpinittoaspecimenboard."Alittlelater,crawlingtoadifferentrow,hefoundonemushroom,"thesizeofanappleseed."Then,later,acobwebspidereatingacranefly(onlyone).Asingleredmite"thesizeofadustmotehurryingacrossthebarrenearth,"somegrasshoppers,andthat'sit.”Thoughhecrawledandcrawled,hefoundnothingelse."Itfeltlikeanotherplanetentirely,"hesaid,aworlddenuded.OnehundredyearsagotherewasarichbiodiversityofspeciesintheUS;nowithasgoneKrulwichcontinues:“Yet,100yearsago,thesesamefields,theseprairies,werehometo300speciesofplants,60mammals,300birds,hundredsandhundredsofinsects.Thissoilwastherichest,theloamiestinthestate.Andnow,inthesepatches,thereisalmostliterallynothingbutonekindoflivingthing.We'veerasedeverythingelse.Weneedtofeedourplanet,ofcourse.Butwealsoneedtheteenycreaturesthatdrivealllifeonearth.There'ssomethingstrangeaboutafarmthatintentionallycreatesabiologicaldesertto

53http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2384983554http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jawr.2014.50.issue-2/issuetoc55http://houseofrain.com/bookdetail.cfm?id=134462197097756http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jawr.12159/abstract57http://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2012/11/29/166156242/cornstalks-everywhere-but-nothing-else-not-even-a-bee

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producefoodforonespecies:us.It'sefficient,yes.Butit'ssoefficientthattheantsaremissing,thebeesaremissing,andeventhebirdsstayaway.Something'snotrighthere.Ourcornfieldsaretooquiet.”

Britainisnotmeasuringglyphosateresiduesinhumansoranimals

Glyphosateresiduesinalcohol:wine,whiskyandbeerTheuseofglyphosatefordesiccationonbothbarleyandwheatwasacceptedbythebrewinganddistillingindustriesin2007.58GlyphosateresidueswerefoundinGermanbeer.59“TheMunichEnvironmentalInstitute(UmweltinstitutMünchen)hasreleasedshockingresultson25/02/2016oflaboratorytestingithascompletedon14ofthemostsoldbeersinGermany.TheprobablecarcinogenandWorld’smostusedherbicide–glyphosate–wasfoundinallofthe14beerstested.”AvastmajorityofGermancitizensarecontaminatedwiththeherbicideglyphosate,accordingtoareportfromtheHeinrichBöllFoundation.60Accordingtothestudy,99.6%ofthe2,009Germancitizensmonitoredhavesomelevelofglyphosatefoundintheirurine.Over75%oftheseindividualshaveconcentrationsthatarehigherthantheEU’slegallevelforglyphosateindrinkingwater.Further,childrenuptoage19arefoundtoexhibithigherlevelsofurinaryglyphosatethanolderadults.Individualslivingnearagriculturalareasalsoshowelevatedconcentrationscomparedtothosethatdidnot.

ItisoutrageousthattheNFUandDefraarevictimizingbadgersclaimingthattheyarethecauseofTBindairyherds.Independentscientistshaveshownthatabadgercullisawasteoftimeandmoneyandisinhumane

LookatDenmark,Germany,theUSandAustraliatoseethestudiesthathavebeencarriedoutonglyphosaterelatedtodiseasesinanimals.GlyphosateresiduesinmeatinanimalsfedsoyaandmaizecontaminatedbyglyphosateStudiesinDanishDairycattlefedGMsoya.61Farmanimalssuchashighyieldingdairycowsingestconcentratedfeedslikesoy,corn,andothergrainscontaminatedwiththeherbicideglyphosate.Thiscontaminationisespeciallyhighingeneticallymodifiedcrops(GMO)withresistancetoglyphosateorinthosecropstreatedpre-harvestwithglyphosatetodesiccategrainorkilllate-emergingweeds.Thisisthefirstreportofglyphosateintheurineofdairycowschronicallycontaminatedwithglyphosateintheirfeed.Thecowshad:

• Glyphosateintheurine

58NotesontheuseofRoundup®productsonmalting,millingandseedcrops:MonsantoUKLtd2007.http://www.grainfarmers.co.uk/seeddownloads/Roundup%20on%20seed%20%20milling%20and%20malting.pdf59http://sustainablepulse.com/2016/02/25/german-beer-industry-in-shock-over-probable-carcinogen-glyphosate-contamination/60http://beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2016/03/study-finds-majority-of-germans-have-glyphosate-in-their-bodies/61http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2161-0525.1000186

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• Bloodparameterindicativeofcytotoxicity(Increasedalkalinephosphatase(AP),glutamatedehydrogenase(GLDH),glutamateoxaloacetatetransaminase(GOT),creatininekinase(CK)

• Signsofnephrotoxicity(raisedureaandcreatine)• Increasedserumcholesterol(thefirststatin,simvastatin,wastrialledbyMerckin1994).• Traceelements:verylowlevelsofmanganeseandcobalt.

BirthdefectsinpigletsinDenmarkcorrelatedwithglyphosateresiduesinorgansDetectionofGlyphosatein38malformedPiglets62Glyphosateresidueswerefoundindifferentorgansandtissues(lungs,liver,kidney,brain,gutwallandheart)ofmalformedeuthanizedone-day-oldDanishpiglets(N=38).Theyweretestedusinganenzyme-linkedimmunosorbentassay(ELISA).

• Thehighestconcentrationswereseeninthelungs(Range0.4-80µg/ml)andhearts(Range0.15-80µg/ml)

• Thelowestconcentrationsweredetectedinmuscles(4.4-6.4µg/g).Theauthorsgaveanoverviewofreportsofmalformationsinchildrenoffamilieslivingafewmetersfromwherethisherbicidewassprayed.Theriskofmalformationinhumanembryosisveryhighwhentheirmothersarecontaminatedat2to8weeksofpregnancy.EvidenceofGMOharminpigstudyThiswasacombinedstudybetweentheUSandAustralia.63GM-fedfemaleshadonaveragea25%heavieruterusthannon-GM-fedfemales,apossibleindicatorofdiseasethatrequiresfurtherinvestigation.Also,thelevelofsevereinflammationinstomachswasmarkedlyhigherinpigsfedontheGMdiet.Theresearchresultswerestrikingandstatisticallysignificant.LeadresearcherDrJudyCarman,adjunctassociateprofessoratFlindersUniversity,Adelaide,Australia,said:“Ourfindingsarenoteworthyforseveralreasons.

• First,wefoundtheseresultsinrealon-farmconditions,notinalaboratory,butwiththeaddedbenefitofstrictscientificcontrolsthatarenotnormallypresentonfarms.

• Second,weusedpigs.Pigswiththesehealthproblemsendupinourfoodsupply.Weeatthem.

• Third,pigshaveasimilardigestivesystemtopeople,soweneedtoinvestigateifpeoplearealsogettingdigestiveproblemsfromeatingGMcrops.

• Fourth,wefoundtheseadverseeffectswhenwefedtheanimalsamixtureofcropscontainingthreeGMgenesandtheGMproteinsthatthesegenesproduce.Yetnofoodregulatoranywhereintheworldrequiresasafetyassessmentforthepossibletoxiceffectsofmixtures.Regulatorssimplyassumethattheycan'thappen.

OurresultsprovideclearevidencethatregulatorsneedtosafetyassessGMcropscontainingmixturesofGMgenes,regardlessofwhetherthosegenesoccurintheoneGMplantorinamixtureofGMplantseateninthesamemeal,evenifregulatorshavealreadyassessedGMplantscontainingsingleGMgenesinthemixture.”Iowa-basedfarmerandcropandlivestockadvisorHowardVlieger,oneofthecoordinatorsofthestudy,said:"ForaslongasGMcropshavebeeninthefeedsupply,wehaveseenincreasingdigestiveandreproductiveproblemsinanimals.Nowitisscientificallydocumented.Inmyexperience,farmershavefoundincreasedproductioncostsandescalatingantibioticusewhenfeedingGMcrops.Insomeoperations,the

62http://omicsonline.org/open-access/detection-of-glyphosate-in-malformed-piglets-2161-0525.1000230.pdf63http://www.organic-systems.org/journal/81/8106.pdf

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livestockdeathlossishigh,andthereareunexplainedproblemsincludingspontaneousabortions,deformitiesofnew-bornanimals,andanoveralllistlessnessandlackofcontentmentintheanimals.”DiseasesrelatedtoglyphosateinanimalsGlyphosatehasbeenfoundintheurineofurbanpopulationsandfarmers.“InthesearchforthecausesofseriousdiseasesofentireherdsofanimalsinNorthernGermanyespeciallycattle,glyphosatehasrepeatedlybeendetectedintheurine,faeces,milkandfeedoftheanimals.64Krügeretal.havestudiedthedamagingeffectsofglyphosateonthebeneficialgutbiotaofpoultry.65Inanotherpaper:VisceralbotulismatdairyfarmsinSchleswigHolstein,Germanytheauthorsshowthatthefarmerswholookaftersickcattlewithbotulismoftenhavebotulismtoo.C.botulinumoccursincows'andfarmers'faecesandincattlefeeds.66Theresearchersshowthatthehumansaremostlikelycontractingtheirinfections,notfromthecattlebutfromthefeeds,becausethesametypeofbotulinumispresentinbothhumansandfeeds,butthetypeofbotulinuminthecattleisdifferent.Thereisnowastrongprobabilitythatglyphosateresiduesinanimalfeedsresultinbotulisminthecattleandalsoinrelatedailmentsinpoultry.InamegadairyfarminWales160cowsdiedfromanoutbreakofbotulisminMay2014.“About20incidentsofbotulismintheUKarerecordedeachyear,”theAgencyadded,“butbecausebotulismisnotanotifiabledisease,thisfigureisunlikelytobetrulyrepresentativeofthedisease’sincidence.”Glyphosateinotherspecies:“Inthepresentstudy67glyphosateresiduesweretestedinurineanddifferentorgansofdairycowsaswellasinurineofhares,rabbitsandhumansusingELISAandGasChromatography-MassSpectroscopy(GC-MS).ThecorrelationcoefficientsbetweenELISAandGC-MSwere0.96,0.87,0.97and0.96forcattle,human,andrabbiturineandorgans,respectively.GlyphosateexcretioninGermandairycowswassignificantlylowerthanDanishcows.Cowskeptingeneticallymodifiedfreeareahadsignificantlylowerglyphosateconcentrationsinurinethanconventionalhusbandrycows.Alsoglyphosatewasdetectedindifferentorgansofslaughteredcowsasintestine,liver,muscles,spleenandkidney.Fatteningrabbitsshowedsignificantlyhigherglyphosateresiduesinurinethanhares.Moreover,glyphosatewassignificantlyhigherinurineofhumanswithconventionalfeeding.Furthermore,chronicallyillhumansshowedsignificantlyhigherglyphosateresiduesinurinethanhealthypopulation.Thepresenceofglyphosateresiduesinbothhumansandanimalscouldhaultheentirepopulationtowardsnumeroushealthhazards,studyingtheimpactofglyphosateresiduesonhealthiswarrantedandtheglobalregulationsfortheuseofglyphosatemayhavetobere-evaluated.”Emergingpathogenswipeoutwildlifespeciesacrosstheglobesecondary

toimmunesuppression

Emergingpathogensasthreatstoanimalandplanthealth

64http://www.ithaka-journal.net/druckversionen/e052012-herbicides-urine.pdf65http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2322441266http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2220045267http://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/detection-of-glyphosate-residues-in-animals-and-humans-2161-0525.1000210.pdf

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Outbreaksofinfectiousdiseasesamongstspeciesofwildlifearoundtheworld(suchasamphibians,honeybeesandwildbees,fish,birdsandbats)haveoccurredoverthelast25years.Kiesecker(2002)foundthatatrazine(herbicide)andmalathion(pesticide)madefrogsmoresusceptibletoaparasite,aburrowingtrematodeworm,whichcausedlimbdeformitiesintadpoles.68Fieldexperimentsconclusivelydemonstratedthatexposuretotrematodeinfectionwasrequiredforthedevelopmentoflimbdeformitiesinwoodfrogs,Ranasylvatica.Evenverylowlevelsofexposure(“atconcentrationsconsideredsafefordrinkingwaterbytheUSEnvironmentalProtectionAgency”)couldproduce“dramaticeffectsontheimmuneresponseoftheanimals”.Fieldstudiesshowed“considerablyhigherratesoflimbdeformitieswheretherewaspesticideexposure…Amphibiandeformities,inparticularthoserelatedtolimbdevelopment,havenowbeenreportedin43statesintheU.S.andinfiveCanadianProvinces,aswellasinseveralothercountriesaroundtheworld.”69Sincethelate1990’sscientistshavewritteninincreasinglydesperatetones.In2012thereweretwopapersinNature:“Biodiversitylossandtheimpactonhumanity”70and“Emergingfungalthreatstoanimal,plantandecosystemhealth”.71Authorsofthislastreviewhadappealedtoscientistsurgentlytofind‘theelusivemagicbullet.’Onlyoneother(inadditiontoKiesecker’s)paperfromCaliforniadaredtomentionpesticides.Davidsonetal.72reportedin2002spatialpatternsofdeclineforfourCaliforniaranidfrogsandmatchedthedeclineswiththedistributionofagriculturallands(basedonUSGSlandusemapsandkeypredominantwinddirectionsbasedonCaliforniaAirResourcesstreamlinewindmaps).Theauthorsstatedthat“InCalifornia,thetransportanddepositionofpesticidesfromtheagriculturallyintensiveCentralValleytotheadjacentSierraNevadaiswelldocumented,andpesticideshavebeenfoundinthebodiesofSierrafrogs.”Thewidespreaduseonagriculturalcropsofthesystemicneonicotinoidinsecticides73andtheherbicideglyphosate,74bothofwhichcauseimmunesuppression,makespeciesvulnerabletoemerginginfectiouspathogens,drivinglarge-scaleamphibianextinctions.Chytridfungushaswipedoutamphibianpopulationsoverfivecontinents.Chytridfungus,Batrachochytriumdendrobatidishaswipedoutamphibianpopulationsoverfivecontinents.AspokesmanforIUCNsaid:“TheIUCNRedListcurrentlyconsiders31%oftheearth’samphibiansarethreatenedwithextinction…it’sthoughtthat159specieshavevanishedforeverinrecentyears.”Amphibians,particularlytadpoles,areconsideredtobeenvironmentalindicatorsofindirectecosystemeffectsbecauseoftheiruniquenicheattheboundaryoftheaquatic-terrestrialecosystemsaswellastheirsensitivitytopollutants.Whiletadpolesfeedonperiphyton,adultamphibiansarestrictlyinsectivorous.Amphibianswerethefirstgroupofvertebratestobeaffectedbytheepidemicsofdiseasescausedbyuncommonpathogens.JosephMendelsonanamphibiantaxonomistwrotein2011.75“Therealityofamphibiandeclinesandextinctionshasshiftedtheecologicalbaselineinsomanyecosystems,thatanentire68http://www.pnas.org/content/99/15/9900.full.pdf69http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/1096-9926(200009)62:3%3C147::AID-TERA2%3E3.0.CO;2-2/full70http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v486/n7401/full/nature11148.html?WT.ec_id=NATURE-2012060771http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2249862472http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1523-1739.2002.01030.x/abstract73http://www.boerenlandvogels.nl/sites/default/files/JEIT%20Immune%20Suppression%20pdf_6.pdf74http://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/pesticide/pdfs/seratr01_43_08_04.pdf75http://nationalzoo.si.edu/support/volunteer/documents/HR_Mar2011_JoeM_proofs.pdf

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generationofbiologistsisconductingtheirresearchinaframeworkthathasbeenveryrecentlyremodelled.IamataxonomistandIhaveseenmycareervacillatebetweenthethrillofdiscoveringnewspeciesandthechilloftrackingextinctionevents—includingspeciesthatIdescribed.”Plantimmunesystemsaresimilartothoseofanimals:couldthatexplainwhytreesaroundtheworldaredyingfromdiseasesbecausetherearesomanychemicalsintheenvironment?ProfJeffLDanglofNorthCarolina,ChapelHillisanexpertontheplantimmunesystems.“Manyoftheseproteins(inplants)fallintoaclassofproteinsthathasrelatedmemberswhichfunctionininnateanimalimmunity...Thusactivationofplantimmunesystemsisakintothatofanimalimmunesystemswhere‘modifiedself’canberecognisedtotriggeranappropriateresponse...”“Hewasatthecuttingedgeofwhathecallsamini-revolutionthatnotonlyshowedthatplantshaveanimmunesystem,butthat,atthegeneticandmolecular levels,thesystemsharesbasicorganizational traits withmammals.76For his work in deciphering how plants interact, at themolecular level, with pathogens to fight off disease, Dangl was elected into the NationalAcademyofSciencesin2007.”Humansandtheenvironmentarebeingsilentlypoisonedbythousandsofuntestedandunmonitoredchemicals77ThisisaccordingtotheInternationalFederationofGynecologistsandObstetricsOpiniononreproductivehealthimpactsofexposuretotoxicenvironmentalchemicals.ThreearefromtheUK,onefromCanada,eightfromtheUSAandonefromtheWorldHealthOrganisation.

BritainsecretlycolludedwiththeAgriculturalBiotechnologyCouncil(ABC)

againsttheBritishpublicInJune2012,asecretmeetingwasheldbetweentheAgriculturalBiotechnologyCouncil(ABC),representingindustry,twoUKMinisters,twoMPs,CivilServants,ScientistsandNFUtodiscussthebarrierstointroducingGeneticallyModifiedCrops(GM)intoBritainandhowtoovercomethemOn25thOctober2012DrHelenWallaceDirectorofGenewatchandPeteRileyCampaignManagerGMFreezepublishedaPressRelease:78MonsantomeetsMinisterstopushreturnofGMcropstoBritain.On26June2012,Roundtablediscussionon‘GoingforGrowth’:RealisingthepotentialofagriculturaltechnologiesintheUK.Attendees79includedGovernmentMinisters,MPs,CivilServantsfromDefra,theDepartmentofBusiness,InnovationsandSkills,OfficeofLifeSciences,DirectoroftheCentreforFoodSecurity,JohnInnesCentre,RothamstedResearch,JamesHuttonInstitute,theNationalFarmersUnionandtheAgriculturalandHorticulturalDevelopmentBoard.HerearethelinkstotheAgenda80andasummaryofthemeeting.81TheABChadalsocommunicatedwiththeFoodStandardsAgency(FSA).Theseorganisationsorindividualshavecolludedwithindustry.GeorgeFreemanMP,oneofthosepresent,wasappointedbyDavidCameronasParliamentary76http://www.pnas.org/content/107/30/13203.full77http://www.figo.org/sites/default/files/uploads/News/Final%20PDF_8462.pdf78http://www.genewatch.org/article.shtml?als%5Bcid%5D=569457&als%5Bitemid%5D=57144979http://tinyurl.com/9jbce4g80http://tinyurl.com/8ahylza81http://tinyurl.com/92rrajn

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UnderSecretaryofStateforLifeSciencesattheDepartmentforBusiness,InnovationandSkillsandtheDepartmentofHealthon15July2014.HehasalargeportfolioattheDepartmentofHealth:ninesubjectsincludinggenomics,medicineandindustry.82ThatiswhytheNFUhastheBritishGovernmentonastringandgivesitanythingitwantsSinceJune2012,theNFUhastheGovernmentonastring.ItistotallydependentontheNFUtomakemoneyforitbybringinginGMcrops.WhiletheNFUPresidentcanignorewhatpesticidesaredoingtoUKchildren’sbrains,theNFUgetseverythingthatitasksfor,includingprotectionfromprosecutionforpollutingtheenvironmentandHealthandSafetyExecutivebreachesonhisfarm.83

• Sustainableuseofpesticides:84NFUlobbiedforcontinuationofAerialSpraying.Article9AerialSpraying.EUDirectiveAdvice:Aerialsprayingofpesticideshasthepotentialtocausesignificantadverseimpactsonhumanhealthandtheenvironment,inparticularfromspraydrift.Thereforeaerialsprayingshouldgenerallybeprohibitedwithderogationspossiblewhereitrepresentsclearadvantagesintermsofreducedimpactsonhumanhealthandtheenvironmentincomparisonwithothersprayingmethods,orwheretherearenoviablealternatives,providedthatthebestavailabletechnologytoreducedriftisused.GovernmentResponse:Wedonotconsiderthatresponsibleapplicationofpesticidesbyaerialsprayingposesanunacceptablerisktohumanhealthandtheenvironment,andconsequentlywewillusethederogation.WebelievethattheexistinglegislationcontrolregimeprovidesabasisformeetingtheDirectiveandthiswillbeadaptedtoensurethecontinuationofproperlyregulatedaerialapplicationsthroughaconsent-basedapproach.

• NFUlobbiedforAbolitionoftheAgriculturalWagesBoardSeptember2012.85DespitemassiveprotestsitwaspassedinApril2013withoutadebateintheHouseofCommons

• ItlobbiedfornocaponbenefitclaimsfromtheEUMarch2014.Thebiggest174landownersinEnglandtake£120mbetweenthem.A€300,000capwouldhavesavedaround£70m.86

• ItdemandabadgercullApril2013(at£7000/badger)againstallscientificevidence.87• Itlobbiedtoweakenslurryregulations.88“NFUbelievesthebestwaytosupportthe

environmentisviaanon-regulatoryandadviceledapproach.”89• Reducingconditionsforfarmsubsidies.90TheFarmRegulationTaskForcedemandeda

specificchange:allsoilprotectionrulesattachedtofarmsubsidiesshouldbecomevoluntary.

82https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state--4283http://www.theguardian.com/environment/georgemonbiot/2016/mar/23/has-the-nfu-presidents-farm-led-by-example-when-it-comes-to-bad-practice-in-the-countryside84http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32009L012885http://www.farming.co.uk/news/article/824986http://www.theguardian.com/environment/georgemonbiot/2016/mar/23/has-the-nfu-presidents-farm-led-by-example-when-it-comes-to-bad-practice-in-the-countryside86http://www.monbiot.com/2014/03/03/the-benefits-claimants-the-goverment-loves/87http://www.theguardian.com/environment/damian-carrington-blog/2013/oct/01/badger-cull-police-nfu-losing88http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/oct/05/think-dairy-farming-is-benign-our-rivers-tell-a-different-story89http://www.nfuonline.com/final-consultation-response-23-11-15/

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• LobbyingtheEUtoprotectpesticidesJune2014.TheNationalFarmers’Union(NFU),theCropProtectionAssociation(CPA)andAgriculturalIndustriesConfederation(AIC)launchedHealthyHarvestHealthyHarvest–safeguardingthecropprotectiontoolboxinJune2014.TheNFUandpesticidecompaniescontinuallydefendtheuseofpesticidesforeconomicreasonsandcomplainatanyattempttorestrictthe320attheirdisposal.CPA,AICandtheNFUcommissionedAndersonstowriteaReport:Theeffectofthelossofplantprotectionproducts(i.e.pesticides)onUKAgricultureandHorticulturethatpredicteddireeconomiceffectsonUKfarmingifpesticideswererestricted.91

• AfterseverefloodinginYorkandmajortownsaroundthenorthofEnglandinJanuary2016,LizTrussplantoallowfarmerstodredgeandclearthewatercoursespassingthroughtheirland,withoutoversight,regulation,orconsiderationoftheimpactsdownstream,inordertopreventtheirfieldsfromflooding.92

• Noprotectionforbeesfromneonicotinoidinsecticides.TheNFUlobbiedforBayerandSyngentatoattend(thenew)ExpertCommitteeonPesticides(ECP)meetingtojustifyemergencyliftingofneonicotinoidban.93

Incontrast,Italy’spartialbanonsystemicneonicotinoidinsecticidesin2008hadbeensuccessfulAtaBeekeepingConferenceheldinGuelphUniversity,Ontarioon12August2015,94ProfFrancoMutinellisaidItalyinstitutedapartialbanonneonicotinoidsin2008andithasbeenextendedeachyearsince.Noactivesubstancesareallowedinseedcoatingsandtheuseofneonicotinoidsisrestrictedtospecificcases.“It'sbeeneffective”,hesaid."Afterthebantherehasbeenstrongimprovement.Theeffectofthebanwasimmediate."Hesaidcornproducerswereworriedaboutlosingcropyieldtodisease,"butthatdidn'thappen,"hesaid."Thebanhasbeennowsevenyearsandcropyieldiswithintheexpectedrange."ChristianKrupke's(UniversityofPurdue)researchindicatesthatthebenefitofneonicotinoidtreatmenttocornseedsonlylaststwoweeks.Thenitwashesawaywiththewaterandseepsintothesoil.Further,hesaidthepeststheneonicotinoidsaresupposedtofendoffarenotpresentinthemajorityoffarms.Buttheyarereallytoxictohoneybees,hesaid."Thebenefitoftheseedtreatmentsishardtojustify,"hesaid."Weknowthestatusquojustdoesn'twork."ThePANreviewofglyphosatestatesthatItalyhasbanneditsusepre-harvest“Asaresult,nationalbansandrestrictions,andvoluntaryactionbylocalauthoritiesandretailerstocurbusearerisingdramatically.SriLankawasthefirstcountrytobanitcompletely,althoughthebanhasrecentlybeenrelaxedtoallowuseinteaplantations.Italyhasbannedpre-harvestuseofglyphosate,andalluseinpublicplacesandthosefrequentedbychildrenandtheelderly; Franceisphasingouttheuseofpesticidesintownsandpublicareas”95

90http://www.monbiot.com/2014/02/17/muddying-the-waters/91http://www.cropprotection.org.uk/media/89364/andersons_final_report.pdf92http://www.theguardian.com/environment/georgemonbiot/2016/jan/07/liz-truss-is-choosing-to-protect-farmers-over-flood-victims93http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/29/bee-harming-pesticide-firms-took-part-key-meeting-ban94http://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/5795639-italy-s-ban-on-neonicotinoids-effective-u-of-g-conference-told/95http://www.pan-uk.org/news/pan-international-releases-new-glyphosate-review

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BiocidesRegulationsintheEuropeanUnionmakesalotofmoneyforsomeoneREACH(Registration,Evaluation,AuthorisationandRestrictionofChemicalsubstances):TheBiocidalProductRegulation(BPR,Regulation(EU)528/2012)concernstheplacingonthemarketanduseofbiocidalproducts,whichareusedtoprotecthumans,animals,materialsorarticlesagainstharmfulorganisms,likepestsorbacteria,bytheactionoftheactivesubstancescontainedinthebiocidalproduct.96“REACHisaregulationoftheEuropeanUnion,adoptedtoimprovetheprotectionofhumanhealthandtheenvironmentfromtherisksthatcanbeposedbychemicals,whileenhancingthecompetitivenessoftheEUchemicalsindustry.Italsopromotesalternativemethodsforthehazardassessmentofsubstancesinordertoreducethenumberoftestsonanimals.” Itcameintoforceon02/08/07.ExponentInc.isacompanythathelpschemicalfirmswithREACHcompliance.97Itdescribesitselfas“aresearchandscientificconsultantfirmwithclientsfromindustry(includingcropprotection)andgovernment.”ExponentInc.wasemployedbyBayertocriticiseEFSA’sworkonneonicotinoidsandbeesin2013.ItalsocontributedtoareviewbyaDowemployeethatconcludedthat“exposuretospecificpesticidesduringcriticalperiodsofbraindevelopmentandneurobehavioraloutcomesisnotcompelling.98”DrCarolineHarris,aVice-PresidentofExponentIncwasontheUKAdvisoryCommitteeonPesticidesevenbeforeitbecametheExpertCommitteeonPesticides.AglobalindustryhasemergedtoadviseonBiocidesRegulation.TheBritishGovernmentismakingalotofmoneyoutofitbecauseBiocidesHubisbasedintheUK.Aswiththeregulationofpesticides,itiscontrolledbythepesticidesindustryandbasedintheUK.BiocidesSymposiaareheldregularlyaroundtheworldto“getup-to-speedonallthat’snewinbiocidalproductsregulation”to“stayonestepahead.”Coursesarefrom£300-400perdayto$1585foraSymposium.Amultitudeoffirmshaveclientsfrom‘industry,cropprotectionandgovernment’.ChemicalWatchBiocidesHub(Shrewsbury)offers13EventsonBiocidesRegulationin2016,rangingfrombeginnerscoursestoadvancedcourses.BIOCIDESHAVENOPLACEINAGRICULTURE.ABIOCIDEISASUBSTANCE

THATISKILLINGALLLIFERosemaryMasonMBChBFRCA12/10/2016

96https://echa.europa.eu/regulations/biocidal-products-regulation97http://www.exponent.com/REACH/98http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23777200