Missouri Coalition for the Environment’s Post

Juries in three US states recently ordered Germany’s Bayer to pay more than $500m in damages for failing to warn about the health risks of its Roundup herbicides. But the consumer wins come as proposed federal legislation backed by Bayer and the powerful agricultural industry could limit similar cases from ever going to trial in the future. Jury selection begins later this month in a case in San Benito, California, and several other trials are also on the dockets in multiple states. Among the central claims made in the nationwide litigation is that Monsanto’s products should have carried warnings on their labels telling users of a cancer risk Such claims would in effect be blocked, or substantially weakened, if the pre-emption measure becomes law, according to plaintiffs’ lawyers and other experts. The measure would in effect make the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the sole authority for determining when and if certain warnings should be required on labeled products. Join the Roundup litigation now

Rather chilling similarities to NSW & Qld Govt & APVMA changing their interpretation of safety, and label guidance to allow blanket pesticide application in a vain attempt to control fire ants. Regulatory science cares not for actual data, it makes decisions to suit political imperatives. Our Govt is asking wrong questions, so choosing wrong answers again and again. Whitespot and varroa are gold standard examples of failure- type 3 errors as Ian Mitroff would say. Worse, Govt commit type 4 errors trying to convince us of the merits of their folly. Profligate use of pesticides will cause more aggregate harm, than alternative non toxic controls, which accept we have lost the 'battle' long ago when we chose to globalise trade. That is when we accepted pest and disease homogenisation.

Daily News: EPA and Court Allow Violations and Hazards of Weed Killer Dicamba Under Existing Stock Order Buried in the U.S. District Court, District of Arizona decision in February—determining that US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) violated the law in allowing harm associated with the herbicide dicamba’s registration—is language that effectively authorizes the continued use of the weedkiller through the 2024 growing season. [See our Daily News from Feb 13: https://ow.ly/cGHr50QLHz3] The ruling, deferring to EPA's interpretation, continues a pattern of “existing stock” allowances—in contrast to product recalls, typical when pharmaceuticals violate safety standards. The routine use of existing stock orders serves as an example of EPA’s commitment to facilitating access to toxic pesticides, even after unacceptable hazards and potential damage associated with their use have been determined. *** BEYOND PESTICIDES takes the position that these hazards are not “reasonable” under FIFRA, given the availability and profitability of USDA certified organic practices eliminating the need for toxic petrochemical pesticides like dicamba. For more information on how the existing stocks order will impact farmers by state, click below! Daily News Blog Post: https://ow.ly/ovKu50QLGby

On Thursday, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil rejected crucial sections of a contentious law aimed at relaxing regulations on pesticide usage in the country. As a major player in agriculture, Brazil holds the title of the world’s largest consumer of pesticides, with a significant portion falling under the classification of highly hazardous substances. #EarthScience #EnvironmentalScience #Science #Scitke #Scitke

On Thursday, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil rejected crucial sections of a contentious law aimed at relaxing regulations on pesticide usage in the country. As a major player in agriculture, Brazil holds the title of the world’s largest consumer of pesticides, with a significant portion falling under the classification of highly hazardous substances. #EarthScience #EnvironmentalScience #Science #Scitke #Scitke

Prioritizing Protecting Pesticide Companies Over Addressing Pesticidal Concerns Will Have Significant Consequences It is evident that a conflict is emerging due to the proposed laws in the United States that seek to protect pesticide companies. This situation carries potential implications for both the food systems and the well-being of the general public. The extensive use of pesticides in agriculture is intended to safeguard crops from pests and diseases. Nevertheless, their utilization is resulting in significant damage to the soil, its citizens/microorganisms, the environment, climate, wildlife, and human health. If the proposed laws prioritize protecting pesticide companies over addressing these concerns, it could have several consequences. 1️⃣Firstly, it may lead to the continued use of potentially harmful pesticides without adequate regulation or oversight. This could result in contamination of #food, #water, and #soil, posing risks to both consumers and agricultural workers. 2️⃣Additionally, prioritizing the interests of pesticide companies may hinder the development and implementation of safer and more sustainable alternatives. This could impede progress towards more environmentally friendly and healthier agricultural practices. 3️⃣Furthermore, if public trust in the safety of the food system is eroded due to perceived favouritism towards pesticide companies, it may lead to decreased confidence in the overall food supply. This could have economic implications for farmers and the agricultural industry as a whole. In summary, the battle over proposed laws to protect pesticide companies can have significant consequences on food systems and public health. It is crucial to carefully consider the potential impacts and prioritize the well-being of both consumers and the environment in any regulatory decisions. It is imperative that we do not lose the momentum generated by regenerative practices, which serve as a viable alternative to the use of harmful chemicals in agriculture. #agriculture #law #pesticides #foodsystems #publichealth https://lnkd.in/dq69mrJZ

Urgent & Time Sensitive: Local government control is once again being challenged. EWG confirmed Bayer has spent over $3.5 million lobbying Congress to overturn state and local regulations. The preemption provision in the House Farm Bill is a threat to democracy and public health. It's simple - parents and our city leaders, not the pesticide industry, should have the power to protect our children from hazardous pesticides in the parks where they play. We have demonstrated, from CA to NY, that you can have beautiful parks, athletic fields, and open space that meet community expectations without the use of synthetic pesticides.  Please help fight against preemption to keep these safeguards in place and expand organic land management to protect our children, pets, pollinators, and environment from hazardous pesticides. How can you help? Please send letters to the House - we created a sample letter you can use, and for reference I have attached letter delivered to the House by over 100 members of Congress. https://lnkd.in/ghuZdSw4

A coalition of 140 local and state elected officials from 30 states called on the House and Senate Agriculture committees to reject the proposed Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act (H.R. 4288)—which would preempt local governments’ authority to protect their constituents from toxic pesticides—as members of Congress negotiate preemption language in the Farm Bill. Rather than treat FIFRA as the minimum level of federal protection, H.R. 4288 provisions would alter the standards to treat FIFRA language as a ceiling for pesticide management under the guise of concern over labeling consistency. “We write to express our strong opposition to any efforts to limit longstanding state and local authority to protect people, animals, and the environment by regulating pesticides,” says the signatories. “As Congress considers legislation related to agriculture... we urge you to ensure that state, county, and local governments retain the right to protect their communities and set policies that best suit our local needs.” Multiple state legislatures have been grappling with state preemption reform with mixed results, underscoring what advocates see as an important citizen-led advocacy movement to hold elected officials in state legislatures accountable to the local democratic process. For more information on the efforts to protect local democracy, please read the Daily News linked below! *** This recently released letter represents the culmination of community members who successfully reached out to public officials through a previous call to action to protect local democracy in the upcoming Farm Bill. There is still time to directly contact your U.S. Representative or Senator to oppose inclusion in the Farm Bill of H.R. 4288! >>Click here to take action: https://ow.ly/l1a650QtELY Daily News Blog Post: https://ow.ly/9ZFh50QtEMm