EPA: No more "glyphosate carcinogenic" warning labels

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently said it would no longer approve warning labels claiming that glyphosate causes cancer.

Jiang Yan, senior engineer of the Biological Research Center of the Institute of Genetics and Development of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told Sci-tech Daily: "With the extensive and in-depth study of glyphosate, the evidence is increasingly reinforcing the scientific conclusion that glyphosate has no carcinogenic effect on humans. “

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency carries out multiple safety ratings for glyphosate

"The United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a statement on December 12, 2017, based on the 216-page carcinogenicity report of glyphosate." Jiang Yan said.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for managing the use of pesticides. According to federal law, in 2018, the herbicide glyphosate was reviewed for all registered pesticides at least every 15 years. Therefore, on December 12, 2017, the Pesticide Project Office of the US Environmental Protection Agency released a revised document on glyphosate: assessing carcinogenic potential.

As glyphosate has been registered for use, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made several safety ratings for glyphosate. Based on the emergence of renal tumors in mice, it was classified as group C chemical in 1985 as a possible human carcinogen.

In 1986, after assessing the carcinogenic potential of glyphosate, the Scientific Advisory Group recommended that glyphosate be classified as a class D chemical - not as a human carcinogen.

"In 1991, the US Environmental Protection Agency's Cancer Peer Review Board listed glyphosate as a group E chemical based on new data - proving that it is non-carcinogenic to humans. In September 2015, the Cancer Assessment Review Board classified glyphosate as "unlikely to cause cancer in humans". Jiang Shuo said.

However, in March 2015, the World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer announced an assessment of five organophosphorus pesticides and herbicides to determine that glyphosate may be a carcinogen (group 2A).

In November 2015, the European Food Safety Agency quickly determined that glyphosate was unlikely to cause cancer in humans. In May 2016, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization Conference on Pesticide Residues concluded that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a cancer risk to humans through exposure and diet.

"When members of the National Toxicology Program Working Group reviewed the data used in the review by the International Agency for Cancer Research, the organization disagreed with the view that flaws in its plan would lead to problematic conclusions," Jiang said.

Don't let California do wrong in federal policy

California decided in 2017 to require the identification of pesticides.

However, Andrew Wheeler, director of the US Environmental Protection Agency, said in a recent statement: "It is irresponsible for the US EPA to incorrectly label glyphosate products after it is convinced that glyphosate is not carcinogenic. We will not let California's errors affect federal policy. “

In an August 12 response, the Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Office of the California Environmental Protection Agency issued a hasty statement claiming that it was based on the conclusion of the International Agency for Research on Cancer that "glyphosate may cause human cancer" and that the list of carcinogens requiring glyphosate might need to be identified.

"According to the Constitution of the United States, federal law is superior to state law. If there is a conflict between the two, state laws will be null and void. Therefore, unless California appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court, unconditional adjustments will be made to eliminate the carcinogenicity of glyphosate. "Jiang Shuo said.

"According to the Pesticide Management Act of the United States, the decision of the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States is valid for 15 years. Fifteen years later, it can be adjusted or adjusted on the basis of new scientific evidence. Jiang said that the EPA's decision to use phosphine normally on lawns was undoubtedly positive. At present, in addition to the flawed conclusions of international cancer research institutes such as France and Sweden, the international glyphosate industry, with China as the main supplier, is basically normal.

According to Bayer, the EPA statement is consistent with the scientific conclusions of the agency and other leading global health regulators over the past 40 years that the use of glyphosate herbicides according to product labels is safe, while glyphosate is not. Carcinogenicity.