Ban glyphosate and protect people and the environment from toxic pesticides

We call on the European Commission to propose to member states a ban on glyphosate, to reform the pesticide approval procedure, and to set EU-wide mandatory reduction targets for pesticide use.

Ban glyphosate-based herbicides, exposure to which has been linked to cancer in humans, and has led to ecosystems degradation; ensure that the scientific evaluation of pesticides for EU regulatory approval is based only on published studies, which are commissioned by competent public authorities instead of the pesticide industry; set EU-wide mandatory reduction targets for pesticide use, with a view to achieving a pesticide-free future.

A European Citizen’s Initiative (ECI) is a legal instrument, which, if successful, obliges the European Commission to hear the demands of citizens in a formal procedure.

For this reason, there are also certain rules that must be followed when signing. The information fields required are not set by WeMove.EU, but are determined by which member state you are signing the ECI for. The extra information that is being asked of you is a legal requirement for your signature to be considered valid.

Your information is firstly encrypted (so no one can access it) and is stored temporarily on a secure server in Germany. Once enough signatures have been collected in your country, they are then handed over to the officials in your country who will officially verify the signatures.

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All normal data protection rules and law apply.

A European Citizens’ Initiative is a special way that ordinary European citizens like us can demand the European Commission investigates whether there should be a change in the law in Europe. It is different to a regular petition because this tool legally obliges the European Commission to consider and investigate our demands as citizens. So it gives us more bargaining power.

To be considered successful, a European Citizen’s Initiative needs to reach over 1 million valid signatures throughout the European Union. In addition to that, a minimum number of signatures must be reached in at least seven member states.

ECIs can only be on a topic or policy that the European Commission has the power to legislate on.

To support a European Citizens’ Initiative, you must be an EU citizen (national of an EU member state) and be old enough to vote in European Parliament elections (18 except Austria where the voting age is 16).

To see more information on exactly who is eligible please visit the website of the ECI from the European Commission.

Did you know a poisonous, potentially cancer-inducing chemical could be present in your body? [1, 2] This is possible because our food is being sprayed with it. In fact, scientists have found traces of the hazardous chemical Glyphosate in the urine of nearly 1 in 2 people tested. [3]

Glyphosate is a common pesticide, used on everything from food to gardens. The World Health Organisation has labeled it as “probably carcinogenic”. It is also very harmful to plant and animal life. In short, it’s a pretty damaging pesticide.

In Summer 2016, after a long campaign by hundreds of thousands of Europeans, the European Commission was unable to relicense the use of Glyphosate for 15 years, but instead had to settle for a short 18-month renewal. This was a huge success achieved in the face of intense lobbying by the chemicals industry. But big producers of weed killers like Monsanto are still lobbying to protect their profits. Their deep pockets have been paying for “studies” and “expert” opinions to show that their product is safe.

It seems to be common-sense that cancer-inducing poison should not be sprayed on our farms, our countryside, and our neighbourhoods. We now have the chance to make our voices heard through a European Citizens Initiative — a legal route that means the European Commission has to listen to us if we collect one million signatures this year.

We know what a constant use of Glyphosate will mean for us, the people of Europe: sick people, dead animals, burnt grass, brown leaves, and a loss of biodiversity. Last year, we were able to block Monsanto’s plans in ways they did not expect. But it’s not over, and in 2017 they will be fighting hard to extend the currently short-term approval of glyphosate to 15 years. Which is why we will be fighting even harder to stop them.

Take action now: sign our Citizens Initiative against Monsanto’s cancer-inducing poison.

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