a number of studies on the pesticide, according to the Federal Institute of company LPT. This appears to have falsified results of animal experiments.

Is sold in small and large quantities in the EU: glyphosate photo: Sascha Steinach/imago

BERLIN taz | The Federal Institute for risk assessment (BfR) has acknowledged that 24 studies for the approval of the pesticide glyphosate, derived from the controversial animal testing lab LPT. The authority called on Tuesday on its website shortly after the publication of an article on taz.de this number of tests from the lab, the has tampered with witnesses, according to the results.

The taz was assigned to at least 21 studies in the BfR opinion on the arable poison through, provided the source is clearly or by Number identifiers and the author's name is probably the LPT. In the case of several investigations, the office had blackened the laboratory name. His opinion was the most important preparatory work for the European Union, which has approved glyphosate 2017 for a further 5 years. Currently, she is considering whether to allow the Mediterranean beyond.

The LPT and, therefore, his studies had been certified by the authorities with the "principles of Good laboratory practice" (GLP) to comply with, the fakes are designed to prevent. This is a very expensive certification have almost only tests, which are given by the chemical industry itself in order. Also glyphosate, the most widely used pesticide in the world, have allowed the authorities on the basis of such studies. The cancer research Agency of the world health organization considered the resources available, especially with the help of industry-independent studies as a "likely carcinogen."

ask the taz to opinion and details of Thursday night had the Federal authority to the editorial deadline on Tuesday afternoon went unanswered – in spite of telephone demand. Instead, the BfR issued a press release online, a few minutes after the article was published on the website of the taz.

Previously had are answered by this Federal authority requests about the taz always. The BfR is particularly advised because of his role in the glyphosate approval under pressure. In 2017, the taz reported that it had written down several pages of his opinion about the pesticide by the manufacturers.

Federal Institute for risk assessment

"fakes can, in principle, be ruled out completely"

The BfR said now, "fakes can, in principle, be completely ruled out" by the GLP Standard, with "great effort and criminal energy" be, in spite of the certification possible. Whether the rules are complied with, would have to check the States, not the BfR.

"It is unacceptable that a Federal Agency such as the BfR is a press request unanswered, although it has some thing to say," said the Green member of the German Bundestag and pesticide expert Harald Ebner on Wednesday, the taz. "Criminal energy is the prerequisite for fakes, and also the effort you would be afraid how the previously known cases in the LPT already occupy. If the GLP-Standard are not able to stop them, then what is he worth?“

Helmut Burtscher-damage, biochemist, of the Austrian Environmental organisation Global 2000, said there was "enormous pressure for counterfeiting, because of the conflicts of interest are very large, and it is for the company to billion". He added: "Because it makes the BfR is too easy."

environmentalists demand that the authorities take into account in the future, an industry-independent studies to be stronger – also, if the GLP-seal is missing. In addition, you request that a neutral party studies for pesticide approvals in order.