Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Italy, Switzerland, USA, United Kindom – 09/21/2023. We are lawyers who defend nature and pesticide victims around the world. As such, we are aware of the deleterious effects of pesticide use on all living beings and the environment. We have therefore pleaded for a ban on their use and for compensation for the damages they cause.

At the current time, the European Union must decide whether or not to renew the authorization of glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide, before its current approval expires at the end of 2023. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), in charge of risk assessment, issued a positive opinion on July 6, while recognizing data gaps and major uncertainties. On the basis of this opinion, the European Commission decided on September 20 in favor of a 10-year renewal. On October 13, the 27 member states will vote on this proposal.

In this context, we would like to remind you that there are alternatives to the use of glyphosate, while scientific evidence of the damage resulting from its use is accumulating. For example, in 2015, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified the substance as a probable human carcinogen. This link between glyphosate and cancer was also demonstrated in 2021 by the French Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM). The US courts have also recognized this link for one of our glyphosate-based products. In addition to its carcinogenic potential, the widespread use of this herbicide represents a threat to human health due to its genotoxicity, potential neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and ability to disrupt the endocrine system or the microbiome. Its toxicity was admitted in the US courts. Research is also highlighting its contribution to the decline of birds and pollinators, and to the degradation of soil, water and air quality. Human, animal and plant life are thus directly and indirectly exposed to the effects of glyphosate through this widespread contamination of the environment.

We underline a major inconsistency between the extension of glyphosate marketing and the international commitment to reduce the overall risk from pesticides, as stated in 2022 in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

In the face of such evidence, we consider that the marketing of glyphosate contravenes the fundamental texts of our legal systems, according to which the right to a healthy environment, the right of access to information, the application of the precautionary principle, the duty of independence and impartiality of experts, or the fight against climate change, must all be guaranteed by States.

We, the signatories of this petition, therefore call on all public authorities to assume their responsibilities with regard to the risks posed by glyphosate to society, and consequently ban its use and support farmers in their transition to an ecologically and economically sustainable model. 

Always committed to defending the victims of pesticides, we affirm our determination to challenge the marketing authorizations for glyphosate-based pesticides, and to take legal action against the manufacturing companies and the health agencies that authorize them. 

To find out more about all the harmful effects of glyphosate, visit: https://stopglyphosate.eu/why-ban-glyphosate/human-exposure-to-glyphosate/ 

SIGNATORIES

1. Corinne Lepage, attorney and chairwoman of Justice Pesticides, France
2. Mathilde Lacaze Masmonteil, attorney (Vigo Law Firm), France 
3. Anne-Sophie Denolle, lecturer in public law (University of Rouen), France
4. Julia Thibord, attorney (NGO Pollinis), France
5. Nicolas Gallon, attorney at the Montpellier Bar, France
6. Sylvia Lasfargeas, attorney at the Paris Bar, France
7. Laure Abramowitch, attorney (Legiplanet Avocats), France
8. Laura Bowman, barrister & solicitor, on behalf of the lawyers of Ecojustice, Canada
9. Théophile Keïta, attorney at the Paris Bar, France
10. Juan Ignacio Pereyra Queles, attorney (Estudio Jurídico Pereyra Queles), Argentine
11. Biju P. Raman, advocate on record, India
12. Van Bunch, attorney (Bonnett Fairbourn Friedman & Balint – Arizona), USA
13. Ines Blanc Durand, attorney at the Paris Bar, France
14. Elisabeth Lambert, CNRS Research Director in law (DCS, Nantes), France 
15. Céline Marandet, attorney at the Nantes Bar, France
16. Marine Yzquierdo, attorney (NGO Notre Affaire à Tous), France
17. Annie Martin, researcher in law at CNRS (University of Strasbourg), France
18. Maud Perdriel-Vaissier, public Interest Lawyer, France
19. Mark Soler, attorney at the Valetta bar (European University Institute), France
20. Sara Abraham, Lawyer (Surana and Surana), India
21. Éléonore Delatouche, attorney (NGO Intérêt à agir), France
22. Christophe Savonnet, attorney (Hélios Avocats), France
23. Marine Denis, doctoral student (USPC), environmental lawyer (NGO Notre affaire à tous), France
24. Juliette Maler, student attorney (HEDAC), France
25. Céleste Travaux, lawyer, France
26. Louise Dumont Saint Priest, attorney (Arborescence), France
27. Noémie Pierre, attorney (Kaizen Avocat), France
28. Christel Cournil, University Professor (Sciences Po Toulouse), France
29. Mathias Couturier, lecturer in private law (University of Caen Normandie), France
30. Axelle Constantin, student attorney (HEDAC), France
31. Marie Rota, lecturer in public law (Université de Lorraine), France
32. Hélène Massin-Trachez, attorney at the Lyon Bar, France
33. Antoine Gatet, Lawyer (President of NGO France Nature environnement), France
34. François Ducol, student attorney (EFB), France
35. Florence Deshays, attorney (Deshays avocat), France
36. Antony Tiborken, student lawyer (University of Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne), France
37. Ludivine Vandevoorde, attorney at the Paris Bar and doctoral student in environmental criminal law, France
38. Marie Pauner, volunteer lawyer (NGO Notre affaire à tous), France
39. Bénédicte Kjaer Kahlat, student attorney (EFB), France
40. Marie-Sophie Bondon, lecturer in private law (University of la Rochelle), France
41. Alexandre Maestle, attorney of the Paris Bar, France
42. Jérémy Bousquet, attorney (Metis avocats), France
43. Juanita Olaya Garcia, lawyer, Sustainability, Integrity and Human Rights Consultant (Impactools), Germany and Colombia
44. Aurore Catherine, lecturer in public law (University of Caen Normandie), France
45. Eugénie Duval, lecturer in Law (University of Essex), United Kingdom
    
46. Emmanuel Leiggener, legal advisor (LGR associés Sàrl), Switzerland 
47. Naiara Andreoli Bittencourt, Attorney (Rede Nacional de Advogados e Advogadas Populares), Brazil 
48. Michele Carducci, Full Professor of Comparative Constitutional Law and Climate Law (University of Salento – Cedeuam), Italy
49. Luca Saltalamacchia, attorney (Studio Legale Saltalamacchia), Italy
50. Clothilde Dominique, environmental lawyer (NGO Justice Pesticides), France
51. Hal Mel, lawyer (BF Avocat), France
52. Thibault Soleilhac, attorney (Hélios avocats), France
53. Antoine Riom, attorney (Arborescence Avocats), France
54. Valentin Ramognino, attorney at the Brussels Bar, France-Belgium
55. Vincent Paupelin, attorney at law (Paris Bar), France
56. Cécile Meyer, Lawyer (University of Montpellier), France
57. Camille Parrod, lawyer, France
58. Anne Lacaze-Masmonteil, attorney (Harrison IP), United Kingdom
59. Marie Toussaint, lawyer and Eurodeputy (NGO Notre affaire à Tous), France
60. Anne Stevignon, attorney, research professor (University of Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne), France
61. Cécile Brugerolle, attorney at the Paris Bar, France
62. Isabelle Michallet, Professor of Law (University of Rennes)
63. Hervé Kobo, attorney (Hervé KOBO Avocat), France
64. Marie-Angèle Hermitte, lawyer (CNRS-EHESS), France
65. Stéphanie Greteau, environmental lawyer (University of Paris Saclay), France
66. Julien Prieur, trainer – consultant (JP Formation), France
67. Sidonie Roufiat, attorney (Hodez Roufiat Avocats Associés), France
68. Guillaume Cornu, lawyer waiting to be sworn into the Bar (Cabinet Huglo Lepage Avocats), France
69. Colin Picard de Gennes, Head of Safeguarding and Internal Investigations (Danish Refugee Council), Denmark
70. Marc Pitti-Ferrandi, attorney (Terranostra Avocats), France
71. Sébastien Becue, attorney (Terranostra Avocats), France
72. Pauline Chartier, attorney (Chartier Avocat), France
73. Pierre Riberprey, doctoral student (University of Limoges), France
74. Blandine Verger, attorney (Callia avocats), France
75. Sarah Lavenu-Bozzetto, attorney (Lavenu-Bozzetto law firm), France
76. Romain Delogeau, general Counsel, (Néosoft Foundation), France
77. Catherine Ribot, Professor of Public Law (University of Montpellier), France
78. Zoe Dingwall, Law and policy (European Parliament), Belgium
79. Eric Watteau, human rights graduate (UCL-Saint-Louis), Belgium 

If you are a lawyer and would like to sign this petition, you can : 

• Write to us at contact@justicepesticides.org 
• Or fill in this form directly  

The text is also available in English (click on “EN” at the top right of this page) and Portuguese.

#Stopglyphosate