Cancer suspicion: to ban a Syngenta pesticide required

pesticides are used worldwide to control pests and weeds. However, the size of their benefits such as Crop protection and yield improvements, the use of highly toxic pesticides poses dangers. For example, if the controversial substances get into the drinking water or in the food chain.

The non-governmental organization Public Eye has studied the sales figures of pesticides of international providers – and this with the 310 substances are compared, which are on the list of "highly hazardous pesticides" by the Pesticide Action Network (PAN). The substances considered particularly dangerous for humans and the environment.

Many of the controversial, Syngenta-Weedicides are no longer authorised in Switzerland and in the European Union. In countries such as Brazil, Argentina or India, they would be sold but still, writes of the Public Eye. Syngenta to benefit from weak regulations in the countries.

Almost 4 billion in sales with dangerous pesticides

According to research from the Public Eye, the Basel agro-chemical group Syngenta plays a leading role in the sale of highly toxic pesticides. "15 of 32 best-selling Syngenta pesticides are on the black list of PAN," writes Public Eye. Syngenta, headquartered in the city of Basel and a research site in Stein AG was acquired two years ago by the Chinese state-owned company Chemchina. According to estimates of the Public Eye, the company of 2017 scored "with the sale of highly hazardous pesticides around 3.9 billion dollars in sales", what would be about a third of the total sales.

the most Important market of Brazil

Brazil is the largest market of Syngenta. The Land uses in the agriculture world's most pesticides. Public Eye has analyzed on-site with the organization Réporter Brasil data from the Brazilian programme for monitoring the quality of drinking water. In 85 percent of all drinking water samples, which was the substance of atrazine detected. Syngenta is a world leader in the sale of the herbicide, which is classified as a hormone, mutagenic and toxic to reproduction. In Switzerland and in the EU, the use is prohibited. Atrazine was banned in the EU in 2004, because his residues were frequently in the ground water detected.

the Public Eye calls, in a Petition from Syngenta to the production and sale of highly hazardous pesticides worldwide. At the same time, the non-governmental organization insists on measures of policy. You should prohibit the Export of pesticides. The Geneva national councillor Lisa Mazzone of the Green has made already a Motion.

In the case of Syngenta, one vehemently against the accusations of the Public Eye. "Our products are among the most regulated in the world. We stand by the safety of our products and the role they play in the protection of food quality and safety", writes a Syngenta spokeswoman. The report of the Public Eye, was politically motivated and deliberately misleading. "The rhetoric is to confuse the Public and the corporate responsibility initiative, as well as other political initiatives in Switzerland", in the case of a Syngenta group company. The report of the Public Eye, based on a PAN-down list, which will be recognised by any national or international organization.

Syngenta-chief sees "no second glyphosate-case"

Regardless of the recent study, and accusations of the Public Eye, has expressed Syngenta-chief Erik Fyrwald, most recently, to the use of weed killers. This was necessary, because of climate change, said Fyrwald in an Interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung". Without an effective crop protection and higher yields of land consumption and carbon dioxide increases in emissions in production.

In recent months, the plant protection products glyphosate Bayer, a subsidiary of Monsanto, particularly in the criticism. Glyphosate is a much-used and important tool, said Fyrwald: "We need such a means to reduce the infestation with weeds, diseases and insects effectively. Otherwise, we can't feed the world enough." In the USA a jury has convicted a few weeks ago, Bayer to pay $ 80 million in damages, because their weed killer Roundup, which contains glyphosate, is said to have caused a man with cancer. Bayer moves on the judgment, nevertheless, more lawsuits are likely to follow. Similar legal risks, such as Bayer sees Fyrwald for Syngenta. "The lawsuits in the USA concerning any of our products."

The Public Eye pesticide-sale figures from the US company Phillips McDougall, which also works with the U.S. environmental protection Agency and the agricultural chemical industry. The Numbers of Phillips McDougall would not cover the entire pesticide market. They are sufficiently representative to be able to global sales and the market shares of Syngenta's estimate, writes of the Public Eye. (Editorial Tamedia)

Created: 15.04.2019, 17:45 PM