The European Commission extended the licence for glyphosate by 18 months from August, when the European Chemicals Agency will rule on the pesticide’s potential harm.

The European Chemicals Agency’s ruling could make or break our fight to get glyphosate out of Europe. Which is why we need to make sure it’s a fair, objective review -- not one skewed by Monsanto bias like the latest UN panel that claimed glyphosate was safe for human use.

From policy-making to research, Monsanto’s meddling is everywhere. The co-chair of the UN committee that reviewed glyphosate was also vice president of an institute that accepted more than $1 million in donations from Monsanto. And when the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) ruled that glyphosate was non-carcinogenic, they were relying on assessments of the scientific evidence supplied by Monsanto itself.

These conflicts of interest are unacceptable. A German study showed traces of glyphosate -- which the World Health Organisation has called “probably carcinogenic to humans” -- in 99.6% of the country’s population. If EU regulators are going to keep us safe, they need to reply on impartial scientific evidence, not Monsanto & Co.

We’ve already whittled the glyphosate extension down from 15 years to 18 months. Our governments have heard our voices: four times in a row, EU member states hadn’t backed the renewal or extension of the glyphosate’s licence. It’s time EU regulators follow the facts and the will of the people, not Monsanto’s agenda. Demand the European Chemicals Agency conduct a transparent and objective review of glyphosate.