https://www.derryjournal.com/news/weed-killer-pesticide-ban-call-99677
Weed killer pesticide ban call
Sinn Féin Councillor Patricia Logue is to bring a motion before the monthly meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council calling on the council to ban the use of the chemical weed killer ‘Glyphosate’. Already the chemical has been banned in Europe.
The motion will further request that all sub-contractors employed by council also cease the use of Glyfos and all products containing Glyphosate in the council district, in favor of a more environmentally friendly product. Alternative non-chemical treatments are available. Japanese Knotweed Agency offer treatment of weeds such as Japanese Knotweed & can now be done safely, and without the use of Glyphosates, protecting our environments and the health of children and adults and wildlife, and is a massive step forwards that has been needed for decades in line with Europe.
Colr. Logue is tabling the motion forward following concerns being raised by the Pink Ladies Cancer support group in Derry
She said “Glyphosate is the subject of much controversy across the world since a report by the International Agency for Research against Cancer (IARC) in 2015 concluded that glyphosate was probably carcinogenic to humans. That report was followed by a controversial and hugely criticized report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which concluded that Glyphosate was “unlikely” to cause cancer.
The European Parliament rejected this conclusion and demanded a review by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and requested EFSA release all scientific sources that led to its conclusion. Indeed, my colleague Lynn Boylan MEP has consistently called for more transparency in the process of the approving of chemicals.
The controversy is ongoing worldwide with a ECHA report published in March 2017 concluding that the available scientific evidence ‘did not meet the criteria to classify glyphosate as a carcinogen’. That ECHA study has also been criticized as it uses unpublished scientific evidence provided by industry.
Colr. Logue said that in the circumstances, the precautionary principle must apply. “It seems wrong that anyone would permit the use of Glyphosate in any public area but particularly near playgrounds where every visiting child’s health would be put at risk,” she said.
Jacquie Loughrey, The Education and Prevention Officer at The Pink Ladies Cancer Support Group, who was instrumental in bringing this concern to Colr. Logue said: “After researching the impact of chemicals on human health, the issue of pesticide uses and the negative public health impacts of using pesticides on some groups within our population made me investigate the use in the council area. As we are focused on prevention, in particular cancer prevention and considering children are most at risk from pesticide use, we thought it prudent to bring this to councils’ attention.
We are delighted to be supported by Patricia with this motion.
The motion to be tabled by Colr. Logue states: “As a council we pledge to discontinue the use of glyphosate in all operations with the only exception being when dealing with Japanese Knotweed, which will be injected rather than sprayed.”
The motion also urges council to “pledge to encourage other Statutory Agencies to do likewise.”
Japanese Knotweed Agency is the first and currently only entity that offers a non-chemical Thermo-Electrical treatment against Japanese Knotweed. Delivering up to 5000 volts directly to the weed stalks and crowns, sends a massive destructive shock throughout the weed effectively boiling it in situ and it should decompose and leave no trace. It may take several treatments as would chemical treatment, but with thermo-electrical treatment, the ground is left 100% safe and chemical free.
Thermo-Electric treatment does not affect the ground or land or other foliage next to the treated weed, not does it affect the soil or wildlife or organisms.
Japanese Knotweed Agency will now offer this service across England and Wales throughout 2023 and beyond.
Read more about the Japanese Knotweed Agency and their Thermo-Electric eradication on our website: https://japaneseknotweedagency.co.uk/rootwave/thermo-electrical-treatment/
Or call us freephone 03335 777 888