Aerial glyphosate fumigations in Colombia

Early day motion 343, tabled 20 July 2021 by Tony Lloyd (Labour). Signed by 10 members.

That this House is concerned to learn that the Colombian Government plans to restart aerial glyphosate fumigations; notes the WHO's declaration that glyphosate is probably carcinogenic to humans; recalls that that in 2015, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos suspended fumigations in favour of more effective strategies which would cause less harm to the environment and public health; is aware that numerous civil society organisations have been trying to block glyphosate use, a call echoed by seven UN Special Rapporteurs; is equally concerned that restarting fumigation would explicitly violate the 2016 landmark Peace Agreement between the Colombian Government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP); knows that the agreement specifies fumigation as a last resort that should only be used if the Colombian Government unable to strike deals with local people on crop substitution; believes that the crop substitution programme outlined in that Peace Agreement has been successful in destroying 45,000 hectares of illegal crop; regrets that only 7 per cent of families of the substitution programme have been financially compensated; questions whether aerial glyphosate fumigations would make a material difference to the supply of cocaine; and calls on the Government to make representations to the Colombian Government, urging them to reconsider their decision.

Signatures by party: Labour 5, Scottish National Party 2, DUP 1, Green 1, Labour/Co-operative 1.