Here is a hasty translation I have made of an article in this months' "Abeilles et Fleurs" magazine.

The ' the Council of State's Judgment quashed the refusal of the Minister of Agriculture to repeal the marketing Authorisations of "Round Up Express" and denounced the, "scandalously cozy practices of the Department of Agriculture where agrochemicals are concerned". It is a very strong signal from the High Court in the direction of the Government.

The decision condemmed "the omission" in the assessment of the toxicity of the Round'Up Express of an active substance which is a surfactant on plant, animal and human membranes, and increases tenfold the penetration and the toxicity of the product on living beings.

The Council of State said in its judgment, with some amazement, that "it was known that this substance was typically an active substance in a plant protection product" and that despite this the AFSSA "made no mention" of this substance, "neither as an active ingredient nor as a coformulant"  and merely asserted that the only active substance in this product is glyphosate, that the decision of 26 March 2009 by the agency does not mention (the active substance omitted) nor do they analyze the effects of this acid in the preparation "Round'Up Express" 

The National Union of French Apiculture believes that this case brings to light the carelessness or dishonesty of the Ministry of Agriculture when confronting manufacturers agrochemicals, whose applications for marketing authorization are satisfied illegally with no serious control of the state or of the AFSSA, now FANSES.

Bil (Rhone Region)

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