Pubdate: Mon,  8 Oct 2001
Source: Chemistry & Industry Magazine (UK)
Issue: 20 Aug 2001
Page: 494
Website: http://ci.mond.org/current/home.html
Contact:  2001 Society of Chemical Industry

JUDGE SAYS NO TO DRUG CROP SPRAY

A US-sponsored anti-narcotics campaign in Colombia has been dealt a serious 
blow after a judge ruled to suspend the aerial spraying of drug crops 
because of health and environmental concerns.

The crops are being sprayed with a glyphosate herbicide. However, 
Colombia's Judge Gilberto Reyes has ruled that until more safety data on 
the weed killer is produced all aerial spraying must stop.

According to Greenpeace, there are three forms of glyphosate used as 
herbicides: glyphosate-isopropylammonium and glyphosate-sesquiodium, both 
patented by US agricultural products giant Monsanto, and 
glyphosate-trimesium, which is owned by Zeneca.

Leaders of Colombia's indigenous communities and environmentalists have 
called for the cessation of spraying. The spraying, they claim, is 
indiscriminate, killing normal crops as well as heroin poppies and coca 
bushes. They also claim the glyphosate is poisoning drinking water and 
causing skin rashes, vomiting and respiratory disorders in farmers whose 
crops have been sprayed.

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in garden weed killers used around the 
world.

The United Nations has called for an independent review to be carried out 
into Colombia's spraying campaign.

Glyphosate is a broadspectrum herbicide that kills plants by inhibiting the 
biochemical pathway and acting as a growth regulator at low concentrations.

A spokesperson for Monsanto said it was unable to comment on any issues 
concerning the Colombia crop-spraying programme, as it does not discuss who 
it does or does not have contracts with.
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