It happened this summer, in the Landes: a beekeeper lost his entire harvest because of the presence of glyphosate in his honey, twice the amount authorized by the European standard. He did not use any in a personal capacity, but his beehives are located in a natural park in the Landes de Gascogne. However, glyphosate has been spread to clear certain patches of the maritime pine forest, thus contaminating its crops and condemning its honey on the market.
In reaction to this affair, which dates from the beginning of September, the National Forestry Office (ONF) published a Press release on its website, on October 4, announcing that glyphosate would now be banned in public forests.
Glyphosate: probable carcinogen
As a reminder, glyphosate is one of the most common herbicidal substances in the world. It is the active substance of the famous Bayer Round Up, which causes scandal. It has been declared a potential carcinogen to humans and animals by the World Health Organization. Its concentration should not exceed 0.1 µg per liter of drinking water in France.
The NFB reminds that: “phytopharmaceutical treatments are very rare in public forests since they only concern 0.02% of surfaces annually.“But still present. However, the Office announces that”in anticipation of the foreseeable evolution of regulations, the implementation of management plans in public forests will now be done without the use of glyphosate.“
They add that stocks containing glyphosate will be destroyed “in accordance with hazardous waste disposal procedures.“
Also read:
Glyphosate: the herbicide authorized for five more years
Glyphosate: more and more present in the body