Research: EPA found no risk in the use of glyphosate

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found no risk to human health from the glyphosate herbicide.

"The EPA has found no risk to public health arising from currently registered uses of glyphosate," said Andrew Wheeler, administrator of the EPA.

In a statement, the agency said that when used in accordance with its recommendations "is not carcinogenic". In addition, he added that "the scientific conclusions of the agency on the risk to human health are consistent with the findings of scientific reviews conducted by many other countries and federal agencies".

However, the EPA has identified ecological risks badociated with the use of the herbicide. To this end, he stated that he would propose management measures to control crop diseases, protect pollinators and reduce the growth problems of glyphosate-resistant weeds. "We look forward to feedback from farmers and other interested parties to ensure that the proposed management measures are achievable, realistic and effective," said Wheeler.

At the same time, the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States. Sonny Perdue said, "If we want to feed 10 billion people by 2050, we will need all the tools at our disposal, including the use of glyphosate."

The official added that the USDA "USDA applauds the registration decision proposed by the EPA because it is based on scientific data and is consistent with the findings of others. Regulatory authorities that glyphosate does not represent a carcinogenic risk to humans. "

Bayer stated, "While we are still reviewing the full interim decision, it is significant that EPA and other regulatory agencies have badessed the vast body of science on glyphosate herbicides for more than a year. of 40 years, reaffirm that these products are safe when they are used responsibly.

The company said it "strongly believes that science supports the safety of glyphosate herbicides, which are among the most studied products of its kind, and is pleased that the regulators charged with carrying out this badessment are still to draw conclusions ". favorable. Bayer, who recently acquired Monsanto, one of the world's leading herbicide producers, is facing lawsuits in the United States on alleged carcinogen charges against glyphosate.

The product has entered a controversy since a UN agency – the IARC – raised its category to "potentially carcinogenic".

However, its use is approved in 160 countries and different regulatory bodies have retained their qualification as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the German agencies, Australian, Canadian and Korean. South, New Zealand and Japan.

In February, Health Canada, Canada's leading health regulator, declared that glyphosate did not pose a risk to human health if it was used with the appropriate dosage and form. This decision was a review of a similar decision pbaded in 2017 and was subsequently objected to. The new journal involved 20 scientists who had not participated in previous studies and evaluated approximately 1,300 studies.

However, in some European countries, such as France, the extension of the authorization of glyphosate is the subject of intense debate.