Stop the ‘dilly-dallying’ and ban glyphosate, says deputy
A GROUP of deputies is calling for a ban on herbicides containing a cancer-promoting chemical now found in all island raw water.
Deputy David de Lisle is heading a requete to prohibit importation, sale and use of the chemical glyphosate – used in Roundup.
‘We’ve been dilly-dallying since 2016. I called for a ban in 2016 and here we are going into 2020 and nothing’s been done. Hopefully the requete will move things forward,’ he said.
Deputies Barry Paint, Rob Prow, John Gollop, Andrea Dudley-Owen, Paul Le Pelley and Lester Queripel have also signed the petition.
‘It’s something we should be taking very seriously and doing something about,’ said Deputy de Lisle.
It has officially been linked to cancer in court decisions – one case saw $2bn awarded in damages to individuals claiming they were diagnosed after years of using Roundup.
‘I think we’ll find the same sort of thing happening here if we don’t do something quickly.’
In 2016, Deputy de Lisle was told all raw water in Guernsey was contaminated with glyphosate.
In 2018 he again called for a ban on the substance.
He said the levels of glyphosate found in raw water in 2016 were concerning and that the levels had increased since then.
Guernsey Water said it monitored streams for glyphosate regularly.
‘[Glyphosate] is regularly detected but at present remains a low risk, and we will continue to monitor for this parameter in 2019 to ensure that the levels we find are of no concern to our
treatment processes.’
Deputy de Lisle said people using products like Roundup in their gardens often did not use the chemical properly.
‘They’re not realising the harm it can do and even the professionals are spraying it and they’re not properly attired.
‘There are safer alternative measures including biopesticides and they’re certainly preferable to using Roundup and any other weed killers with glyphosate in them. They are effective.’
Mr de Lisle hoped that States debate on the issue would raise public awareness of its dangers.
‘Public health is the main issue, with the environmental effect.’
The requete has been submitted following statement from States Works that it will end the use of glyphosate by the end of 2020 due to the effect it has on the environment and biodiversity, and the increase of the chemical in raw water.
The requete asks Employment & Social Security to revoke all existing approvals of plant protection products containing glyphosate, including the importation and sale to professional users and the public, by 31 March 2020.
Professional use would stop by 31 December 2020, however, they ask that ESS consider granting a licence for professionals to control noxious weeds. Licenses would be reviewed by the end of 2022.
