Aventis Takes Friends of the Earth to High Court 
to Stop Release of Health Effects Data on 
Glufosinate Ammonium 

The Guardian UK 8sep01

Glufosinate ammonium is being used in farm trials of GM crops. The environmentalists asked for the information from what is now the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Defra, last year after it changed the rules on use of the herbicide. Previously it was only allowed to be sprayed during the summer, because of fears over the environmental and health impact during winter. Concerns included leaching into groundwater.

However, following a request by Aventis CropScience, a global company based in Lyons in France, Defra allowed glufosinate ammonium to be sprayed during winter. Friends of the Earth asked to see the information Aventis supplied to back up its requests; this January Defra refused to disclose the information. FoE then threatened legal action, and Defra agreed to its release - whereupon Aventis announced it would go to court. A hearing is expected shortly.

A spokesman for Defra said: "Aventis has lodged an application for judicial review. Defra will be defending the matter." 

• Glufosinate Ammonium Induces Convulsion in Mice - Neuroscience Letters 304 (2001) 123-125