❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the Minister for Agriculture and Food's awareness and concerns about the herbicide glyphosate, its use with GM crops, and its potential impacts on human health and the environment. The Minister's response indicates a lack of concern, deferring to the APVMA's assessment of glyphosate's safety when used as directed.
AnsweredQoN 5307Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the Minister aware of the Greenpeace report '
Herbicide Tolerance and GM crops
' on negative impacts of Glyphosate associated with GM crops?
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/publications/reports/Herbicide-tolerance-and-GM-crops/
(2) Is the Minister concerned about this report?
(3) If yes to (2), how is the Minister addressing his concerns?
(4) If no to (2), why not?
(5) In what areas of Western Australia has glyphosate resistance been reported?
(6) What are the strategies the Government suggest to address this issue?
(7) What advice does the Government give to farmers to address this issue?
(8) How does the Minister respond to the reported human health problems related to glyphosate -
(a) birth defects in the Argentinean state of Chaco;
(b) glyphosate as a suspected endocrine disruptor; and
(c) the alleged link to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and effects on the nervous system?
(9) Is the Minister aware that according to the report, glyphosate is present in soils, waters and our food as a result of its use as a herbicide?
(10) What strategies does the Minister have to access the impact of this herbicide on the environment and humans?
(11) Has the Minister approached the Minister for Health to reassess the human health impact of glyphosate and its related products?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
(13) If yes to (11), please table the relevant correspondence.
Herbicide Tolerance and GM crops
' on negative impacts of Glyphosate associated with GM crops?
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/publications/reports/Herbicide-tolerance-and-GM-crops/
(2) Is the Minister concerned about this report?
(3) If yes to (2), how is the Minister addressing his concerns?
(4) If no to (2), why not?
(5) In what areas of Western Australia has glyphosate resistance been reported?
(6) What are the strategies the Government suggest to address this issue?
(7) What advice does the Government give to farmers to address this issue?
(8) How does the Minister respond to the reported human health problems related to glyphosate -
(a) birth defects in the Argentinean state of Chaco;
(b) glyphosate as a suspected endocrine disruptor; and
(c) the alleged link to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and effects on the nervous system?
(9) Is the Minister aware that according to the report, glyphosate is present in soils, waters and our food as a result of its use as a herbicide?
(10) What strategies does the Minister have to access the impact of this herbicide on the environment and humans?
(11) Has the Minister approached the Minister for Health to reassess the human health impact of glyphosate and its related products?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
(13) If yes to (11), please table the relevant correspondence.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 May 2012
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
42 days
(1) Yes.
(2) No.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) The report omits the rigorous science-based information that demonstrates that exposure to glyphosate at environmentally realistic concentrations does not harm human or animal health.
(5) Three populations of glyphosate resistant ryegrass have been reported in the south coastal region of Western Australia.
(6)-(7) The Department of Agriculture and Food advises growers to use integrated weed management to reduce the incidence of glyphosate resistance in weeds.
(8)(a)-(c)The Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicine Authority (APVMA) is responsible for ensuring that pesticides such as glyphosate are safe to humans, animals and the environment when used according to the label directions. The APVMA has concluded that glyphosate is a safe and effective chemical when used according to label instructions.
(9) Yes. The report concludes that the available data identifies that the concentration of glyphosate in foods consumed by humans is less than the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation's Codex Alimentarius permitted maximum residue levels.
(10) None. The APVMA is responsible for this work.
(11) No.
(12) There is no credible science-based evidence that glyphosate and related products harms human health when used according to the label directions.
(13) Not applicable.
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(2) No.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) The report omits the rigorous science-based information that demonstrates that exposure to glyphosate at environmentally realistic concentrations does not harm human or animal health.
(5) Three populations of glyphosate resistant ryegrass have been reported in the south coastal region of Western Australia.
(6)-(7) The Department of Agriculture and Food advises growers to use integrated weed management to reduce the incidence of glyphosate resistance in weeds.
(8)(a)-(c)The Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicine Authority (APVMA) is responsible for ensuring that pesticides such as glyphosate are safe to humans, animals and the environment when used according to the label directions. The APVMA has concluded that glyphosate is a safe and effective chemical when used according to label instructions.
(9) Yes. The report concludes that the available data identifies that the concentration of glyphosate in foods consumed by humans is less than the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation's Codex Alimentarius permitted maximum residue levels.
(10) None. The APVMA is responsible for this work.
(11) No.
(12) There is no credible science-based evidence that glyphosate and related products harms human health when used according to the label directions.
(13) Not applicable.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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