New Zealanders’ health is being put at risk by a chemical in commonly used weed killers deemed unsafe by international agencies, but not our own Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Green Party said today.
New Zealanders’ health is being put at risk by a chemical in commonly used weed killers deemed unsafe by international agencies, but not our own Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Green Party said today.
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup weed killer has been determined to be a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the world’s leading authority. A paper released today demonstrates how the EPA used science and opinion supplied by industry and unpublished data to reach conclusions counter to the views of 17 world experts.
“New Zealanders should be able to count on agencies like the EPA to ensure public health,” says Green Party pesticides spokesperson Steffan Browning and co-author of the report.
The paper ‘Why did the NZ EPA ignore the world authority on cancer?’ has supporting statements from academics and researchers, and includes information released under the OIA showing that the Ministry of Health did not agree with the EPA’s approach to challenging the IARC.
The research paper recommends that the EPA immediately withdraw its report, ‘Review of the Evidence Relating to Glyphosate and Carcinogenicity,’ and adopt the IARC’s determination that it is a probable human carcinogen.
“Removing glyphosate based herbicides such as Roundup from streets and parks is the least the EPA can do before undergoing a deep review of its processes,”
“The EPA review appears outdated and the agency has failed to take account of significant factors,”
“The failure of New Zealand authorities to draw on the IARC finding and protect New Zealanders from chemicals with probable carcinogenic properties means we need to investigate how the EPA and other agencies makes these decisions,” said Mr Browning.
The Green Party has also today sent the EPA a petition with more than 3000 signatures calling for a reassessment of the safety of Glyphosate.
Link to Report: NZ EPA Glyphosate and Cancer
Latest Environment Announcements
Story
$30m for school drinking water safety is a start but pollution keeps flowing
Story
“End of an era” as Government law change disestablishes Ministry for the Environment
Story
NZ democracy at risk of corporate corruption - Green Party backs urgent inquiry
Story
Action needed on widespread drinking water problems
Story
9,000 students faced unsafe drinking water at school last year
Story
Fast-track Decision Looms on Destructive Waitaha Hydro Scheme
Latest Health Announcements
Story
New Report shows free dental service would cost less than current system
Story
Govt’s private hospital contracts little more than Band-Aid
Story
NZ’s Public Health system dealt yet another blow
Story
Report highlights urgent need for “life-changing” free dental care
Story
Covid Inquiry report underlines need to invest in Health
Story
End of free RAT tests means more exposure to virus
Latest Agriculture Announcements
Story
Overwhelming farmer support for equal welfare standards for pork imports
Story
Greens call for urgent inquiry into food factory closures
Story
Govt must own its role in Canterbury nitrate emergency
Story
Biodiversity credit won’t fix damage done by Luxon Govt
Story
Luxon needs to address the cow in the room
Story
Farmers among first and worst hit by climate change
Latest Primary Industries Announcements
Petition
Take action to protect our oceans
Policy
Agriculture Policy
Story
Review of live animal exports needed to protect animal welfare and New Zealand’s agricultural brand
Story
Cameras on boats must be quickly scaled up: Greens
Story
More measures to protect Hector’s dolphins
Story