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More evidence of subterfuge and sleight-of-hand emerges regarding glyphosate

It’s well worth a visit to the URL below to read the detailed analysis of this new evidence.

Screening of new Monsanto Papers - Batches released 27/28 Oct 2017

Corporate Europe Observatory, November 8 2017
https://corporateeurope.org/food-and-agriculture/2017/11/screening-new-monsanto-papers

Corporate Europe Observatory has summarised the content of several new Monsanto Papers, which were released on 27 and 28 October 2017.

The summary of the exchange between the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [1], as well as the one of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) action plan [2] have been provided by Friends of the Earth Europe.

These documents show [for context and further detail, please see here]:

* the possibility that EFSA dismissed the IARC Monograph on the carcinogenicity of glyphosate before it was even published.
 
* Monsanto’s ‘ECHA action plan’ including the involvement of “independent experts”. Older documents provide evidence of more third-party scientists that Monsanto considers to be “on their side”, some of who still play a role in the debate (e.g. Keith Solomon).
 
* how Monsanto is trying at all cost to get regulators to stick to their preferred No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) for glyphosate, which constitutes the basis for the determination of Acceptable Daily Intake levels, although the conclusions of one of Monsanto’s own glyphosate studies pointed at a lower one.
 
* studies on dermal absorption of glyphosate and glyphosate-containing formulations that worry Monsanto, and which the company aims to have stopped or countered for that reason. Dermal absorption is a key route for occupational exposure.
 
* Monsanto admitting that the company has “vulnerabilities” regarding the IARC assessment in epidemiology, genotoxicity and other areas. Monsanto’s remark that the glyphosate-producing industry needs to “string together to help the cause”, even if not scientifically justified.
 
* a Monsanto 'clearance form' to be filled in by authors of manuscripts before they are submitted to scientific journals. This particular 2012 document lists David Saltmiras and Larry Kier as authors of the corresponding study, which was later published as ‘Kier & Kirkland 2013’ - confirming the ghostwriting.

For detailed analysis, see:
https://corporateeurope.org/food-and-agriculture/2017/11/screening-new-monsanto-papers