Association wants alternatives assessed for agricultural use

The French consumer association CLCV has asked the authorities to ban glyphosate herbicide, the most widely used in France, for domestic use by gardeners.

The CLCV called on the French and European health agencies and the French ministry of agriculture to restrict sales of the herbicide after the World Health Organisation’s cancer agency IARC said it was a “probable” carcinogen.

"We particularly request a suspension of self-service sales of the herbicide for domestic use (gardeners)," said CLCV.

CLCV also requested "a thorough analysis of the use of glyphosate in agriculture and of its impact on the environment and the health of consumers".

"In this context, we hope that a risk/benefit analysis of the possible alternatives to glyphosate for agricultural use will be launched by the health agency," added the consumer association.

Source (in French): La Parisienne http://www.leparisien.fr/laparisienne/sante/l-herbicide-le-plus-utilise-en-france-dans-le-viseur-d-une-association-de-consommateurs-08-06-2015-4843827.php