Chemical Pesticide Poisons - what commercial Glyphosate based “weedkiller” products did NEWRY, MOURNE & DOWN DISTRICT COUNCIL employees administer/spray on COUNCIL lands from 2015-2019.

The request was successful.

15 September 2019
Marie Ward
Doing business as Chief Executive Officer, Designate
Liam Hannaway
Doing business as Chief Executive Officer
NEWRY, MOURNE AND DOWN DISTRICT COUNCIL
Newry Office - Monaghan Row, Newry

Notice to the Principal is Notice to the Agent; Notice to the Agent is Notice to the Principle

Chemical Pesticide Poisons - what commercial Glyphosate based “weedkiller” products did NEWRY, MOURNE & DOWN DISTRICT COUNCIL employees administer/spray on COUNCIL lands from 2015-2019.

NOTICE OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

Dear Marie Ward and Liam Hannaway,

WHEREAS the NEWRY, MOURNE & DOWN DISTRICT COUNCIL is a CORPORATION. PART1 Section 1 (2) https://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1972...

WHEREAS A growing body of scientific literature implicates exposure to ambient pesticides including glyphosate based pesticides/formulations during pregnancy and early childhood as an environmental risk factor for autism spectrum disorder. BMJ 2019 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l962

WHEREAS - DERRY CITY AND STRABANE DISTRICT COUNCIL unanimously passed the following: "That this Council recognises the health and environmental risks associated with Glyphosate, which the World Health Organisation has upgraded to “probably carcinogenic in humans”.

Taking this into consideration this Council should cease from using the weed killer and request that all subcontractors employed by Council also cease the use of Glyfos and all products containing Glyphosate in this Council district, in favour of a more environmentally friendly product.

As a Council we pledge to discontinue the use of glyphosate in all operations with the only exception being when dealing with Japanese Knotweed, which will be injected rather than sprayed. We also pledge to encourage other Statutory Agencies to do likewise.”

http://www.pan-uk.org/pesticide-free-tow...

WHEREAS “While we can avoid most food-borne glyphosate-containing herbicides by not eating GM foods and sticking to an organic diet, we cannot easily avoid environmental exposure unless these herbicides are not used. The chemicals in glyphosate-based herbicides like Roundup are long lived in the environment. They break down slowly and remain on the plants and in the ground for a long time. They can also migrate into the air with dust or in the misty conditions… Indeed, a significant amount of human glyphosate exposure is from the air.”

WHEREAS on the 20 March 2015, the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) assessed Glyphosate based pesticides and formulations, including Roundup®, as Group 2A “Probably Carcinogenic to Humans”. The World Health Organisation IARC outlines that Glyphosate and Glyphosate formulations cause: Higher levels of cancer in populations exposed to spraying; mutation and damage to human DNA; cancer in lab animals and is 2A "Probable Human Carcinogen” - their second highest classification.

The WHO’s IARC assessment was published in THE LANCET Oncology (2015) and as volume 112 of the IARC Monographs. The WHO’s IARC Monographs evaluation is a hazard classification. It indicates the strength of evidence that glyphosate and glyphosate formulations can cause cancer. This classification is further supported by “strong” evidence for genotoxicity, both for “pure” glyphosate and for glyphosate formulations.

Unlike many so-called regulatory agencies in the UK, EU or US, the WHO’s IARC classification considers only published, peer-reviewed data from toxicological studies, and does not rely primarily on industry data or consider a corporation’s internal unpublished studies which are not in the public domain. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [UK] is a member state, contributes to budget and running costs, and participates in the Governing Council of the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer.

‘IARC Monograph on Glyphosate’ https://www.iarc.fr/featured-news/media-...

‘Carcinogenicity of tetrachlorvinphos, parathion, malathion, diazinon, and glyphosate’ https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf...

WHEREAS DDT (DichloroDiphenylTrichloroethane) was also classified as a Group 2A “Probably Carcinogenic to Humans” in 2015.

WHEREAS “Studies over the past decade suggest that glyphosate — the active ingredient in Roundup — pollutes water sources, hangs around in soil far longer than previously suspected, and routinely taints human food supplies. In both the U.S. and Europe, the supposedly safe limits for human ingestion are based on long-outdated science. Research also points to serious adverse consequences for the environment, and there are indications glyphosate can cause disease in mammals even several generations removed from the initial exposure.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articl...

WHEREAS “Over the past year, evidence of Monsanto’s deceptive efforts to defend the safety of its top-selling Roundup herbicide have been laid bare for all to see. Through three civil trials, the public release of internal corporate communications has revealed conduct that all three juries have found so unethical as to warrant punishing punitive damage awards.

Much attention has been paid to Monsanto conversations in which company scientists casually discuss ghostwriting scientific papers and suppressing science that conflicts with corporate assertions of Roundup’s safety. There has also been public outrage over internal records illustrating cozy relationships with friendly regulators which border on – and possibly cross into – collusion.

But these once-confidential Monsanto documents demonstrate that the deception has gone much deeper. In addition to the manipulation of science and of regulators, the company’s most insidious deceit may be its strategic manipulation of the media, according to the records.” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

WHEREAS Researchers from King’s College London have shown an “ultra low dose” of glyphosate-based pesticides and formulations was damaging. The study involved glyphosate exposures of 4 nanograms per kilogram of body weight per day, which is 75,000 below EU permitted levels. https://www.nature.com/articles/srep39328

WHEREAS there are currently at least 13,400 [now 18,400 + as 23 August 2019] lawsuits which have been filed from people who claim exposure to glyphosate based pesticides and “weed killers” including but not limited to Roundup® caused them health problems, including cancer.

WHEREAS according to a Class Action Lawsuit filed in the US, “Monsanto’s marketing claim that Roundup is safe because it targets an enzyme that is not found in people or pets is “false, misleading, and deceptive, as the enzyme that glyphosate targets is found in people and pets—specifically, in beneficial gut bacteria.”

Glyphosate kills weeds by interfering with the “shikimate pathway,” a metabolic sequence that synthesizes vital amino acids. Glyphosate disrupts the shikimate pathway by interfering with 5 enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP), an enzyme that governs aromatic amino acid formation. Beneficial bacteria in the human gut (and the guts of other mammals) produces and utilizes EPSP synthase. Our immune systems [and the immune systems of other mammals including wildlife, livestock and pets] depend on this beneficial gut bacteria.”
https://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/toxic-tor...

WHEREAS exposure to Glyphosate-based pesticides, including Roundup®, can be a significant factor in and has been linked to the following: ADHD; ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease); Alzheimer’s disease; Anencephaly (birth defect); Autism Spectrum Disorder; Birth defects; Brain cancer in children; Breast cancer; Celiac disease and gluten intolerance; Chronic kidney disease; Colitis: Depression; Diabetes; Disrupting healthy Gut Bacteria within humans and animals; Heart disease; Hypothyroidism; Infertility; Inflammatory Bowel Disease (“Leaky Gut Syndrome”); Liver disease; Lung Cancer; Male Reproductive problems (delayed puberty, decreased sperm production, and decreased testosterone production); Multiple Sclerosis (MS); Multiple Chemical Sensitivity; Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD); Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancer; Miscarriages; Spontaneous abortion; Neurotoxcity, Parkinson’s disease; Prostate Cancer; Respiratory illnesses; Stillbirths and other harms and potential harms.

WHEREAS Juror No. 4 in the first Monsanto Roundup trial August 2018 [Dewayne Johnson v MONSANTO], has a simple explanation for why [MONSANTO now] BAYER is getting “socked with big-dollar verdicts for its weedkiller”. He states, “The evidence against them is simply overwhelming.”
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news...

WHEREAS 10 August 2018 - Dewayne Johnson v. MONSANTO Company was the first Roundup® cancer lawsuit to proceed to trial. A unanimous jury verdict in favour of Dewayne Johnson’s claim that exposure to Monsanto’s Roundup® weed killer and its active ingredient, glyphosate was a substantial factor in causing Dewayne Johnson to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer (NHL). The jury awarded $39.25 million in compensatory damages and $250 million in punitive damages.
Jury Verdict Form: https://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/pdf/monsa...

WHEREAS 27 March 2019 - Edwin Hardeman v. MONSANTO Company (now BAYER). A unanimous jury verdict in favour of Edwin Hardeman’s claim that exposure to Monsanto’s Roundup® weed killer and its active ingredient, glyphosate, was a substantial factor in causing Edwin Harderman to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cancer. Awarding $80.2 million in compensatory damages and punitive damages. The jury also found that Roundup® was unsafe and Monsanto had failed to adequately warn of the risks associated with its products.

Jury Verdict Form: https://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/pdf/monsa...

The US district judge Vince Chhabria, who oversaw the trial stated there were “large swathes of evidence” showing that Monsanto’s Roundup® could cause cancer. That there was “a great deal of evidence that Monsanto has not taken a responsible, objective approach to the safety of its product … and does not particularly care whether its product is in fact giving people cancer, focusing instead on manipulating public opinion and undermining anyone who raises genuine and legitimate concerns about the issue.”
https://usrtk.org/monsanto-roundup-trial...

WHEREAS 13 May 2019 in the case of Pilliod et al. v. MONSANTO Company (now BAYER), a jury verdict in favour of wife and husband Alberta and Alva Pilliod’s claims that exposure to Monsanto’s Roundup® weed killer and its active ingredient, glyphosate, was a substantial factor in causing both of their non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer. “The couple attributed their cancer diagnoses on exposure to Roundup and its active ingredient, glyphosate, and accused Monsanto of fraudulently representing that Roundup is safe despite scientific evidence linking exposure to non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer.”

The jury verdict ordered MONSANTO to pay $55 million in compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages ($1 billion each for Alberta and Alva Pilliod) for failing to warn consumers that exposure to Roundup weed killer causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

Jury Verdict Form: https://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/pdf/monsa...
Jury verdict Form: https://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/pdf/monsa...

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, you are required to provide the following:

In a response to a FOI claim/request dated 18 July 2019, it was confirmed that employees of the NEWRY, MOURNE AND DOWN DISTRICT COUNCIL spray glyphosate based “weed killers” assessed by the World Health Organisation as 2A "Probably Carcinogenic to Humans” on paths and around children’s play areas; amenity areas, including family picnic areas; and sports areas. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...

1. Confirm the trade name(s) and manufacturer(s) of the commercial Glyphosate-based “weed killers” (products) purchased by employees of the NEWRY, MOURNE AND DOWN DISTRICT COUNCIL and which are/were administered and /or sprayed by employees of the COUNCIL and which are assessed by the World Health Organisation’s IARC as 2A "Probably Carcinogenic to Humans” for the years:

A) 1 April 2015 - 31 March 2016;
B) 1 April 2016 - 31 March 2017;
C) 1 April 2017 - 31 March 2018;
D) 1 April 2018 - 31 March 2019;
E) 1 April 2019 - 01 August 2019.

2. Copies of the manufacturer(s) Data Sheet(s) for the commercial Glyphosate-based “weed killers” (products) purchased by employees of the NEWRY, MOURNE AND DOWN DISTRICT COUNCIL and which are/were administered and /or sprayed by employees of the COUNCIL and which are assessed by the World Health Organisation’s IARC as 2A "Probably Carcinogenic to Humans” for the years:

A) 1 April 2015 - 31 March 2016;
B) 1 April 2016 - 31 March 2017;
C) 1 April 2017 - 31 March 2018;
D) 1 April 2018 - 31 March 2019;
E) 1 April 2019 - 01 August 2019.

Please number your responses 1 -2. I do not consent to receiving a single sentence/paragraph response for items 1- 2. I require each item and each year (A-E) to have its own response.

The information requested/claimed in this FOI is of public interest. The NEWRY, MOURNE AND DOWN DISTRICT COUNCIL exists for one purpose only - to give services to the public and has no other purpose. This is not a gift or altruistic service - it is a public service and it is paid for by the people through public money, such as rates.

I have the reasonable expectation that you, Liam Hannaway, acting as a public servant in the public office of Chief Executive Officer of NEWRY, MOURNE AND DOWN DISTRICT COUNCIL will honour and adhere to your position of Trust, the Seven Principles of public life, your Duty of Care, the laws, the statutory legislation, regulations and protocols that govern public servants and all those who offer a public service.

The 7 principles of public life are: Honesty; Openness; Leadership; Integrity; Accountability; Objectivity and Selflessness.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...

I require written receipt of this Freedom of Information Claim/Request. This will be used as evidence.

Sincerely and without ill will, vexation or frivolity,
by Alisa Keane
All rights reserved

Trainor, Suzanne, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Dear Ms Keane,

 

Thank you for your email dated 15^th September 2019 and your request for
information therein.

 

You have requested from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
information in relation to Chemical Pesticides Poisons (what commercial
Glyphosate based weed killer products did NMDDC employees administer/spray
on Council lands)

 

I confirm your request will be processed as a request under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.  Accordingly, you will receive the information you
have requested within 20 working days of the date of receipt of your
request by the Council unless the Council does not hold the information or
there is a reason to withhold all or part of the information requested. 
Council will write to you in any event. 

 

I hope to respond to you no later than 14/09/2019.

 

For further information in relation to the Freedom of Information Act 2000
I would refer you to the Information Commissioner's Office website,
[1]www.ico.org.uk

 

If you wish to discuss the above please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Kind Regards

 

 

Suzanne Trainor

Information Officer

Comhairle Ceantair an Iúir Mhúrn agus an Dúin

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Downshire Civic Centre

Ardglass Road

Downpatrick

BT30 6GQ

 

Council: 0300 013 2233

Planning: 0300 200 7830  Ext:2104

 

www.newrymournedown

 

This e-mail, its contents and any attachments are intended only for the
above named. As this e-mail may contain confidential or legally privileged
information, if you are not, or suspect that you are not, the above named,
or the person responsible for delivering the message to the above named,
delete or destroy the email and any attachments immediately. The contents
of this e-mail may not be disclosed to, nor used by, anyone other than the
above named. We will not accept any liability (in negligence or otherwise)
arising from any third party acting, or refraining from acting, on such
information. Opinions, conclusions and other information expressed in such
messages are not given or endorsed by the Council, unless otherwise
indicated in writing by an authorised representative independent of such
messages. Please note that we cannot guarantee that this message or any
attachment is virus free or has not been intercepted and amended. The
Council undertakes monitoring of both incoming and outgoing e-mails. You
should therefore be aware that if you send an e-mail to a person within
the Council it may be subject to any monitoring deemed necessary by the
organisation. As a public body, the Council may be required to disclose
this e-mail (or any response to it) under UK Data Protection and Freedom
of Information legislation, unless the information in it is covered by an
exemption.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.ico.org.uk/

Trainor, Suzanne, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Dear Ms Keane

 

I refer to my acknowledgment of you Freedom of Information request below.

 

Please be advised the incorrect response date was on the e-mail.

 

I hope to respond to you no later than 14/10/2019.

 

Regards

 

Suzanne Trainor

Information Officer

Comhairle Ceantair an Iúir Mhúrn agus an Dúin

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Downshire Civic Centre

Ardglass Road

Downpatrick

BT30 6GQ

 

Council: 0300 013 2233

Planning: 0300 200 7830  Ext:2104

 

www.newrymournedown

 

From: Trainor, Suzanne
Sent: 16 September 2019 16:22
To: [FOI #603742 email]
Subject: AD/FOI/2019

 

Dear Ms Keane,

 

Thank you for your email dated 15^th September 2019 and your request for
information therein.

 

You have requested from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
information in relation to Chemical Pesticides Poisons (what commercial
Glyphosate based weed killer products did NMDDC employees administer/spray
on Council lands)

 

I confirm your request will be processed as a request under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.  Accordingly, you will receive the information you
have requested within 20 working days of the date of receipt of your
request by the Council unless the Council does not hold the information or
there is a reason to withhold all or part of the information requested. 
Council will write to you in any event. 

 

I hope to respond to you no later than 14/09/2019.

 

For further information in relation to the Freedom of Information Act 2000
I would refer you to the Information Commissioner's Office website,
[1]www.ico.org.uk

 

If you wish to discuss the above please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Kind Regards

 

 

Suzanne Trainor

Information Officer

Comhairle Ceantair an Iúir Mhúrn agus an Dúin

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Downshire Civic Centre

Ardglass Road

Downpatrick

BT30 6GQ

 

Council: 0300 013 2233

Planning: 0300 200 7830  Ext:2104

 

[2]www.newrymournedown

 

This e-mail, its contents and any attachments are intended only for the
above named. As this e-mail may contain confidential or legally privileged
information, if you are not, or suspect that you are not, the above named,
or the person responsible for delivering the message to the above named,
delete or destroy the email and any attachments immediately. The contents
of this e-mail may not be disclosed to, nor used by, anyone other than the
above named. We will not accept any liability (in negligence or otherwise)
arising from any third party acting, or refraining from acting, on such
information. Opinions, conclusions and other information expressed in such
messages are not given or endorsed by the Council, unless otherwise
indicated in writing by an authorised representative independent of such
messages. Please note that we cannot guarantee that this message or any
attachment is virus free or has not been intercepted and amended. The
Council undertakes monitoring of both incoming and outgoing e-mails. You
should therefore be aware that if you send an e-mail to a person within
the Council it may be subject to any monitoring deemed necessary by the
organisation. As a public body, the Council may be required to disclose
this e-mail (or any response to it) under UK Data Protection and Freedom
of Information legislation, unless the information in it is covered by an
exemption.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.ico.org.uk/
2. http://www.newrymournedown/

Trainor, Suzanne, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

5 Attachments

Dear Ailsa Keane,

Thank you for your email received 16^th September 2019 and your request
for information therein.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 you have requested information
in relation to  Chemical Pesticides Poisons (what commercial Glyphosate
based weed killer products did NMDDC employees administer/spray on Council
lands)

I confirm your request has now been processed as a request under the terms
of the Act and, accordingly, please see Council's response below.  

1.  Confirm the trade name(s) and manufacturer(s) of the commercial
Glyphosate-based “weed killers” (products) purchased by employees of the
NEWRY, MOURNE AND DOWN DISTRICT COUNCIL  and which are/were administered
and /or sprayed by employees of the COUNCIL and which are assessed by the
World Health Organisation’s IARC as 2A "Probably Carcinogenic to Humans”
for the years:

 

A) 1 April 2015 - 31 March 2016;  Newry Mourne Down Council used  Roundup
Pro-Biactive manufactured by Monsanto.

B) 1 April 2016 - 31 March 2017;  Newry Mourne Down Council used  Roundup
Pro-Biactive manufactured by Monsanto and Duplex manufactured by Nomix
Enviro.

C) 1 April 2017 - 31 March 2018;  Newry Mourne Down Council used  Roundup
Provantage manufactured by Monsanto and Duplex manufactured by Nomix
Enviro.

D) 1 April 2018 - 31 March 2019;  Newry Mourne Down Council used  Roundup
Provantage manufactured by Monsanto and Duplex manufactured by Nomix
Enviro.

E) 1 April 2019 - 01 August 2019. Newry Mourne Down Council use  Roundup
Provantage manufactured by Monsanto. Since July 2019 Council have also
used Nomix Dual manufactured by Nomix Enviro.

 

2. Copies of the manufacturer(s) Data Sheet(s) for the commercial
Glyphosate-based “weed killers” (products) purchased by employees of the
NEWRY, MOURNE AND DOWN DISTRICT COUNCIL  and which are/were administered
and /or sprayed by employees of the COUNCIL and which are assessed by the
World Health Organisation’s IARC as 2A "Probably Carcinogenic to Humans”
for the years:

 

A) 1 April 2015 - 31 March 2016;  Please see attachment Pro Biactive
safety data sheet dated 01/06/2012 covers for this period.

B) 1 April 2016 - 31 March 2017;  Please see attachment Safety Data sheet
dated 06/09/2016 covers for this period and the Nomix Duplex data sheet
attached.

C) 1 April 2017 - 31 March 2018;  Please see attachment Safety Data sheet
dated November 2016 covers for this period and the Nomix Duplex data sheet
attached.

D) 1 April 2018 - 31 March 2019;  Please see attachment Safety Data sheet
dated November 2016 Roundup Provantage covers for this period and the
Nomix Duplex data sheet attached.

E) 1 April 2019 - 01 August 2019. Please see attachment Safety Data sheet
dated November 2016 Roundup Provantage covers for this period and Nomix
Dual data sheet attached.

 

If you wish to discuss the above, please do not hesitate to contact me
directly.

I trust this is of assistance.  However, should you be unhappy with our
response in this matter you may request an Internal Review of our response
by 28/11/2019. You can contact Edel Cosgrove Head of Compliance
([email address]) in that regard. In the event you are unhappy
with the outcome of any Internal Review conducted by the Council you may
apply to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for a review of our
response. Please note that the ICO generally expects Internal Reviews to
be completed prior to reviewing the decisions of public bodies.  For
further information in relation to Freedom of Information I would direct
you to the website of the Information Commissioner at: [1]www.ico.org.uk.

Regards

 

Suzanne Trainor

Information Officer

Comhairle Ceantair an Iúir Mhúrn agus an Dúin

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Downshire Civic Centre

Ardglass Road

Downpatrick

BT30 6GQ

 

Council: 0300 013 2233

Planning: 0300 200 7830  Ext:2104

 

www.newrymournedown

 

This e-mail, its contents and any attachments are intended only for the
above named. As this e-mail may contain confidential or legally privileged
information, if you are not, or suspect that you are not, the above named,
or the person responsible for delivering the message to the above named,
delete or destroy the email and any attachments immediately. The contents
of this e-mail may not be disclosed to, nor used by, anyone other than the
above named. We will not accept any liability (in negligence or otherwise)
arising from any third party acting, or refraining from acting, on such
information. Opinions, conclusions and other information expressed in such
messages are not given or endorsed by the Council, unless otherwise
indicated in writing by an authorised representative independent of such
messages. Please note that we cannot guarantee that this message or any
attachment is virus free or has not been intercepted and amended. The
Council undertakes monitoring of both incoming and outgoing e-mails. You
should therefore be aware that if you send an e-mail to a person within
the Council it may be subject to any monitoring deemed necessary by the
organisation. As a public body, the Council may be required to disclose
this e-mail (or any response to it) under UK Data Protection and Freedom
of Information legislation, unless the information in it is covered by an
exemption.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.ico.gov.uk/