German justice on Monday ordered a farmer to compensate a beekeeper whose honey had been contaminated with glyphosate, in a judgment described as a "signal" by environmental activists.
The regional court of Frankfurt-on-the-Oder considered that the contamination of the honey constitutes an infringement of property.
Contaminated Pollen Nectar
The agricultural company which sprayed the phytosanitary product next to the hives committed, according to the judgment, a breach of its obligations by negligence.
The agricultural company, run by Dutch investors and located not far from Berlin, in the Brandenburg region, will have to pay 14,544 euros to the beekeeper.
In the spring of 2019, the latter had installed beehives in the vicinity of the farm.
A few weeks later, the company treated the surface with phytosanitary products containing glyphosate and the contaminated nectar or pollen was transported by bees to the hive.
The beekeeper had to destroy the resulting wax and honey, and he said he ceased operations due to this damage.
A “warning signal for agriculture”
The German foundation Aurelia, which campaigns for the preservation of bees and supported the farmer, described the judgment as a "warning signal for agriculture and politics".
“Until now, beekeepers suffered damage from others if their honey was contaminated with pesticides from agriculture.
The fact that farmers can be held liable for damage caused by pesticides will hopefully help to reduce the frequency of this damage,” commented in a press release its director, Thomas Radetzki.
Planet
Pesticides: Why does a European agency classify glyphosate as "non-carcinogenic", while for the WHO it is "probably carcinogenic"?
Justice
Ariège: Voluntary mowers sentenced for damaging glyphosate cans in garden centers
Planet
Glyphosate
pesticides
Agriculture
Beekeeping
Germany
Environment