Green MEPs have reported receiving test results that confirm the presence of unsafe levels of the weedkiller glyphosate in their urine.

Glyphosate – described as ‘probably carcinogenic’ by the World Health Organisation (WHO) last year – is still the world’s most widely used herbicide. 

Keith Taylor, MEP for the South East, Molly Scott Cato, MEP for the South West, and Jean Lambert, MEP for London, were among a group of 48 MEPs that took part in a symbolic urine test ahead of the European Parliament vote last month to oppose the EU Commission’s proposal to relicense the controversial toxic substance until 2031.

The inspiration behind what was aptly labelled the #MEPee test were the findings of a recent study in Germany which reported that 99.6% of those tested had glyphosate residue in their urine.

The results of the Green MEPs testing showed that all those tested also had glyphosate traces in their urine. The average concentration was 1.73ng/ml – a level that is 17 times higher than the safe limit for drinking water. The lowest level found among the group was 0.17ng/ml, still almost double the safe level.

Keith, Molly, and Jean have written to Liz Truss urging the UK government to respect the decision of the European Parliament when it is asked to vote on reapproval on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

Keith Taylor, a member of the European Parliament’s Environment and Health Committee (whose own test results show a glyphosate contamination level of 0.4 ng/ml) says:

“I really am ‘peed off’. Our urine test might seem like an attention-grabbing stunt, but it has proved our worst fears about glyphosate which is that it really is everywhere and that’s why I am now calling on the European Commission to consider not only the widespread opposition to reapproving the weedkiller but also just how prevalent it is in our environment.”

Molly Scott Cato, a member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee (whose personal test results show a glyphosate contamination level of 0.45 ng/m) adds:

“Glyphosate has no place in the human body and we’e also concerned about its impact on biodiversity, following evidence that it has detrimental impacts on the honey bee, monarch butterfly, skylark and earthworm populations, and poses a serious threat to the quality of our soil.

“We also risk handing control of our food supply over to agribusiness. Corporate giant Monsanto produces both Roundup, the world’s leading glyphosate-based weed killer, and glyphosate-resistant GM crops. A marriage of convenience which enables corporate control of food production.

“With the UK government the main cheerleader for GM technology, the blocking of blanket reapproval of glyphosate is another example of why we will argue that we are greener in the EU.”

Jean Lambert, a member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee (whose personal test results show a glyphosate contamination level of 0.67 ng/ml) concludes:

“Our test results show that no matter where we live, what we eat, or what agre we are we cannot escape exposure to this toxic substance. With glyphosate widely used in cities, in urban parks and public spaces, on streets and pavements, the European Commission must bow to public pressure this week and put the safety of people and the environment ahead of the profits of chemical industry giants.”

Glyphosphate is the active ingredient in Monsanto Corporation’s Roundup weedkiller. Both France and Italy have refused several applications for reapproval. Last month the European Parliament voted to oppose the re-approval of glyphosate for most uses and called on the Commission to invoke the ‘precautionary principle’. The EU Commission are due to take a final decision on the renewal of glyphosate at an upcoming standing committee on May 18th & 19th.

Source: Molly Scott Cato MEP.