Joint Glyphosate Task Force Issues Statement on IARC Monograph

RALEIGH, N.C., July 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On Wednesday (July 29), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) issued its monograph on the recent classification of glyphosate in Category 2A (probable carcinogen).  In response, the Joint Glyphosate Task Force issued the following statement:

"In March 2015, IARC published a short summary of its classification of glyphosate.  While the full monograph might be 92 pages long, it doesn't contain any new studies or data, and it certainly doesn't clear up the confusion this inconsistent classification has caused.  The bottom line is this: Regulatory agencies around the world conduct thorough and science-based risk assessments on pesticides, including glyphosate.  These agencies have reviewed glyphosate for decades, and they have consistently concluded that all labeled uses of glyphosate are safe for human health.  No regulatory agency in the world considers glyphosate to be a carcinogen. 

"IARC's process is not a risk assessment.  In IARC's own words, 'The IARC Monographs Programme evaluates cancer hazards but not the risks associated with exposure.' This is a much more limited approach than the process used by regulatory agencies.  Additionally, in conducting its review, IARC selectively disregarded numerous scientific studies that support the conclusion by regulatory agencies that glyphosate is not a carcinogen.    

"For more than 40 years, glyphosate has been a valuable and effective weed-control tool for farmers, gardeners and other users.  As a result, glyphosate is one of the most carefully studied herbicides on the market.  Unfortunately, IARC's selective disregard of scientific data and vastly inconsistent classification have resulted in unnecessary concern and confusion.  For that reason, we reiterate our call on the WHO to clarify how IARC arrived at its conclusion."

About the Joint Glyphosate Task Force
The Joint Glyphosate Task Force, LLC (JGTF) is made up of over 20 members, all of whom possess a Glyphosate Technical registration in the United States and/or Canada.  These companies formed the JGTF in 2010 for the purpose of generating data in response to requirements from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).  All of the JGTF data submitted to both regulatory agencies was conducted as part of the re-evaluation of glyphosate, which was initiated by the US and Canada in 2009.

SOURCE Joint Glyphosate Task Force, LLC (JGTF)