Lobbyists of Monsanto Banned from Entering EU Parliament

Lobbyists of Monsanto have been banned from entering the European Parliament after the multinational company refused to participate in a hearing based on allegations that they exerted illegal pressure on European regulatory bodies.

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This is the first time that European parliamentarians have exercised their right to ban those who refuse to participate in the work of the Parliament’s investigative committees from entering the institution. Thus, representatives of Monsanto are prohibited from contacting parliamentarians, using the Parliament’s digital databases, or moving around the Parliament’s premises in Brussels or Strasbourg until further notice. This decision was unanimously supported by all representatives of party blocs in the European Parliament.

“The decision takes effect immediately,” said the Parliament’s spokesperson, Antonio Tajani, to The Guardian.

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Additionally, a special committee has been formed in the European Parliament, composed of experts in agriculture and environmental protection, which is supposed to discuss whether Monsanto representatives exerted illegal pressure on the creators of research regarding the harmfulness of glyphosate.

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“Those who ignore the rules of democracy lose the right to lobby in the European Parliament,” said Philippe Lamberts, a representative of the Green Party.

He added that American corporations must also accept the corrective function of the Parliament in democracy, with Monsanto being no exception.

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Monsanto is seeking to re-obtain permission for the use of glyphosate, although the World Health Organization has published individual studies indicating a link between the substance and the occurrence of cancer.

At the same time, studies have emerged that deny the correlation between glyphosate and cancer, claiming that glyphosate does not cause cancer. Monsanto sent a letter to parliamentarians stating that the Parliament is not the right address for discussing this topic.

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“The scheduled hearing is the last attempt by those opposed to modern agriculture to further frustrate the scientific community and influence regulatory bodies, following their own interests,” Monsanto stated.

“We have been watching with concern the politicization of the issue of re-approval for the use of glyphosate, a topic that concerns exclusively the scientific community, which has been reduced to the level of populism,” said Philip Miller, the CEO of Monsanto.