By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter
In the middle of a series of trials alleging popular weedkiller Roundup causes cancer, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reaffirmed its position on glyphosate and released a proposal for new management practices.
“EPA has found no risks to public health from the current registered uses of glyphosate,” EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said. “(The) proposed action includes new management measures that will help farmers use glyphosate in the most effective and efficient way possible, including pollinator protections.”
EPA is proposing management measures on glyphosate release height, wind speed and droplet size to reduce drift, along with measures to prevent or reduce weed resistance.
The proposal is part of EPA’s regularly-scheduled review of glyphosate’s registration.
In 2017, EPA published a comprehensive ecological and human health risk assessment for agriculture and identified no risk to human health.
A potential ecological risk was identified for terrestrial and aquatic plants, birds and mammals primarily through drift exposure.
Available data shows no risk to pollinators, according to EPA officials.
The agency is accepting comments on its proposal until July 5.
To comment, search “Glyphosate Registration Review” on regulations.gov.
As of May 24, 93 comments were submitted, most calling for an outright ban on glyphosate.
Monsanto, now owned by Bayer, faces more than a thousand lawsuits alleging Roundup led to non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
The company has lost three cases with awards of over $2 billion granted by California juries.
Bayer is appealing the decisions.