California to list glyphosate as carcinogenic

by | Jun 27, 2017 | 5 Ag Stories, News

World of Agriculture 6-28-17

California?s Environmental Protection Agency will become first U.S. agency declaring glyphosate, a widely-used ingredient in RoundUp causes cancer.

The state?s EPA Office of Health Hazard Assessment announced Monday, as of July 7 they will list glyphosate as a cancer-causing agent. Nathan Donley with the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental organization says it is a great day for California.

?This listing is based off the most robust and transparent scientific analysis by the World Health Organization?s Cancer Research arm. We believe this listing is great news for the state of California because residents will have more information to base decisions on when they purchase products at the store.?

There?s been an ongoing court battle between Monsanto and the California EPA since January 2016. Monsanto tried to block the agency from listing the product as a carcinogen but was not granted a stay by the appellate court and California Supreme Court.

?At a time when the Ag community should be looking to put safe tools into the hands of growers around the globe, and glyphosate is one of those safe tools, we should not be bending to activist groups trying to limit the tools available to safely farm to produce more while using fewer resources, this is not the time for that gamesmanship,? Scott Partridge Vice President of Global Strategy for Monsanto said.

Under Proposition 65, the seed and chemical company will have to list glyphosate as a known carcinogen. This proposition requires companies selling the chemical in the state to add warning labels to packaging. Monsanto?s appeal of the court ruling is pending.

Scott Partridge – Monsanto – glyphosate

Nathan Donley- Center for Biological Diversity- glyphosate