Last December, the European Commission decided to renew the marketing authorisation for glyphosate for 5 more years, despite IARC analysis that the substance was proven to be carcinogenic to animals and likely carcinogenic to humans, massive opposition from European citizens demonstrated by the most popular European Citizens’ Initiative in European history and the reluctance of a large number of Member States.

The Brussels-Capital Region lodged an appeal with the European Court of Justice against this decision, which it considered illegal, on March 8 (Case T-178/18) because it violates the principles of a high level of protection of human health and the environment required by the European legislation. Moreover, having prohibited the use of glyphosate on its territory, in accordance with the regional “pesticide-free” policy, it considers that the European decision directly affects the exercise of its competences in the field of environment.

On July 3, Justice Pesticides, which final goal is to ban pesticides that endanger human health and the environment, filed an application with the European Court for intervention in support of the Brussels-Capitale Region. Mrs Corinne Lepage, Justice Pesticides’ Chair, said: “It is essential that Justice Pesticides, an international association for the collection of legal knowledge on the fight against pesticides, be able to put forward its arguments in support of Brussels-Capitale Region against the Commission’s iniquitous decision.”

Since then, another request for intervention in support of the region was submitted on July 26 by five European organisations: The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe, Nature et Progrès Belgique, WeMove.EU and SumOfUs. Most of these groups have contributed to the European Citizens’ Initiative calling for a ban on glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides.