We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Terms and Cookie Policy

The Environmental Protection Agency has withdrawn an interim decision for glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, and says it will complete its registration review in 2026.

The agency announced its latest decision Friday in response to a June opinion from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit that vacated the human health portion of EPA’s interim decision after finding the cancer analysis was flawed. It also remanded, but did not vacate, the agency’s ecological risk assessment after finding that the interim decision should not have been issued without an “effects determination” detailing impacts on threatened and endangered species. 

EPA had been facing an Oct. 1 deadline under FIFRA to complete its registration, but the withdrawal was expected, Roundup maker Bayer said.

The Center for Food Safety, which was one of the plaintiffs in the litigation, called the announcement by EPA both a “major victory” but “also an irresponsible cop-out to try and get around the court's deadline to fix its legal violations.”

The court had ordered EPA to complete a new ecological risk analysis by Oct. 1. EPA, however, told the court it could not reach that deadline, and has now decided to withdraw that analysis and work on all aspects of the glyphosate registration review, with a 2026 target for completion.

In the meantime, “Pesticide products containing glyphosate continue to remain on the market and be used according to the product label and are unaffected by this action,” EPA said in a statement.

“EPA is letting glyphosate be sold and sprayed, despite outstanding major questions about its health and environmental safety,” the Center for Food Safety said. “What EPA should do instead is cancel glyphosate products, until and unless it re-assesses its risks and assures its safety in a lawful way. It cannot: Due to cancer concerns Monsanto/Bayer has already agreed to stop selling Roundup for consumers by 2023. EPA should now cancel its other uses as well.”

Bayer said the withdrawal “has no effect on the registration of glyphosate or Roundup products, nor does it change the conclusions the EPA has repeatedly reached regarding the safety and non-carcinogenicity of these products. The interim decision was a discretionary action taken by the agency and, as a result, EPA was free to withdraw it. The withdrawal also was expected, as the EPA indicated it was considering this action in its petition for rehearing” to the 9th Circuit. The court rejected the request last month. 

“The EPA confirmed it is conducting additional work consistent with the 9th Circuit’s June ruling,” Bayer said. “We remain confident, based on the extensive science supporting its safety, that the agency will again conclude that glyphosate is safe for use and not carcinogenic as they have for decades, consistent with the findings of other expert regulators worldwide.”

EPA said it has not sought label changes to glyphosate products to implement risk mitigation measures identified in the interim decision, “because EPA’s continued work towards completing registration review for glyphosate could affect what risk mitigation measures EPA may determine are necessary,” the agency said in its latest decision.

The agency says it continues to work on a petition from the Environmental Working Group seeking a reduction in the tolerance for oats and label changes and label changes based on concerns regarding dietary exposure and carcinogenicity.

The agency also is continuing Endangered Species Act consultation with federal wildlife agencies.

For more news, go to www.Agri-Pulse.com

You must have JavaScript enabled to enjoy a limited number of articles over the next 30 days.

This week’s Open Mic guest is Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association. The group — formed earlier this year by a merger of the United Fresh Produce Association and the Produce Marketing Association — is preparing for the upcoming White House meeting on hunger and nutrition as well as its own gathering in the nation's capital, where Burns says the group’s focus is the ongoing nutritional challenges in the nation and the world. IFPA is watching closely the development of the 2023 farm bill with a special interest in research as well as nutrition programs. Labor remains a top priority for IFPA members, and Burns is hopeful Congress can still address the issue this year.

In this opinion piece, Ambassador Kip Tom discusses why Americans should care about global food security, and how investments are needed in agricultural research and development to alleviate world hunger and food price inflation.

Lawmakers have one more week to agree on a measure to fund the government into the new fiscal year. While a shutdown is not expected to happen, frustration lingers on Capitol Hill about the amount of time the process has taken. Kansas Republican Tracey Mann joins Newsmakers to discuss that issue as well as his priorities for the upcoming farm bill.

Then, Mark Dopp with the North American Meat Institute, Jake Westlin with the National Association of Wheat Growers, and Ariel Wiegard with the American Soybean Association discuss the risk management, conservation, livestock and political challenges awaiting lawmakers as they look to draft new farm policy.

Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

Stay in the loop for upcoming Agri-Pulse webinars and events! Join our mailing list here: http://bit.ly/Agri-Pulse-Events

Agri-Pulse and Agri-Pulse West are your comprehensive sources of the latest in agricultural information. We take a holistic approach to covering current ag, food and energy policy news and we never miss a beat. We make it our duty to inform you of the most up-to-date agricultural and food policy decisions being made from Washington, D.C. to the west coast and examine how they will affect you: the farmer, the lobbyist, the government employee, the educator, the consultant, and the concerned citizen. We investigate several aspects of food, fuel, feed, and fiber industries, looking at the economic, statistical, and financial trends and evaluate how these changes will impact your business. We provide insight on the people and players who are making things happen. Agri-Pulse provides you with timely updates of how policy decisions will affect your productivity, your pocketbook, and your livelihood. Whether it be new developments in international trade, organic foods, farm credit and loan policies, or climate change legislation, we keep you abreast of the information you need to stay on the cutting edge.