Call to ban glyphosate

Right now, the Parkinson’s community across Europe has a crucial opportunity to ban the use of the controversial pesticide glyphosate – which has been linked to public health risks including cancer, Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative conditions – but we need to act fast

There is no cure for Parkinson’s, but this is a chance to help prevent a potential cause of Parkinson’s and protect public health.

Why Is it Important to Ban Glyphosate?

Glyphosate is the most widely used pesticide in Europe, but there is no concrete evidence that it is safe. Many national and international Parkinson’s experts believe that the current EU testing and authorisation of glyphosate is flawed.

But what we do know is that glyphosate is linked to loss of biodiversity, bee mortality and most alarmingly, there is growing evidence it is a possible cause of Parkinson’s.

For example, there is evidence to suggest a link between exposure to glyphosate and damage to the specific brain region involved in Parkinson’s disease. A large number of studies have shown that farmers and residents living near agricultural plots have a significantly increased risk of Parkinson’s.

Elsewhere, studies also suggest that the long-term effects of exposure to glyphosate include cancer, infertility, pregnancy problems, birth defects and respiratory diseases.

FIND OUT MORE: read our Glyphosate FAQs on our website.

How Can We Achieve A Ban on Glyphosate?

The European Commission is about to vote on a proposed 10-year extension to the license to use the controversial pesticide Glyphosate. EU Member States are allowed to vote on this proposal.

An earlier vote in October failed to secure the necessary qualified majority to pass the renewal, so another vote will be held on 16th November. This has given us a unique opportunity to make our voices heard.

Now we need to persuade our governments and policy makers to vote against the renewal at the new vote on 16th of November to stop the license renewal and end the use of glyphosate for good.

How Can I Help?

There are three quick, easy and effective actions you can take to help ban glyphosate.

Email your local Ministers for Agriculture, Health and Environment:

We need you to join us in telling your local representatives how important this issue is to you so they can make that clear at the European Commission ahead of the vote on 16th of November. We have created this letter template for you to make this process even easier.

Contact details:
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly: stephen.donnelly@oireachtas.ie
Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue: charlie.mcconalogue@oireachtas.ie
Minister for Environment, Eamon Ryan: minister.ryan@decc.gov.ie

Support our Social Media campaign:

Like and share our social media posts on Twitter & Instagram to show your public support where policymakers will see it.

Spread the word:

Tell your friends, family, local Parkinson’s groups and more about this campaign so they can add their voices to support the ban on glyphosate.

Further Information:
To find out more about this campaign, please visit:
Glyphosate FAQs and the link to this study
Alternatively, you can contact us by emailing ruth@parkinsons.ie

Deputy Roisin Shortall raised this issue in the Dail on November 15th, and you can read the Taoiseach’s reply below: