MEDIA RELEASE
12 August 2016
Agcarm welcomes scientific review confirming safety of common herbicide
Glyphosate, a herbicide widely used in agriculture and by gardeners, is unlikely to cause cancer in people, according to
a new safety review by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
The report commissioned by the EPA concludes that based on the weight of evidence, ‘the broad-spectrum herbicide is
unlikely to be carcinogenic and should not be classified as a mutagen or carcinogen under the HSNO Act’. This is the
latest in a long line of technical and scientific reports by expert bodies and regulators confirming the safety of
glyphosate.
Agcarm chief executive, Mark Ross says, “I urge our councils and communities to take heed of this report and rest
assured that the use of glyphosate in our parks, gardens and play areas poses no threat to the health of our people,
pets or children.
“Glyphosate is an efficient and cost-effective means to keeping our country weed-free, our agricultural economy growing,
and our environment protected.”
Agcarm commends the EPA for conducting this review and addressing the concerns that the public has raised about the
herbicide. The results help to curtail the fear-mongering around the use of crop protection products - which are among
the most highly-regulated substances in the world.
Experts from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) recently concluded
that glyphosate is "unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk to humans from exposure through the diet.”
The European Food Safety Authority, an independent agency funded by the European Union, also concluded that glyphosate
is "unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans".
“I anticipate that we can put this matter to bed and continue to use a very practical, economic and safe solution - so
we can keep our parks and gardens weed-free,” says Ross.
Glyphosate has recorded over 40 years of safe use and has been the subject of over 800 studies, all of which confirmed
its safety. It continues to be rigorously tested by regulators in New Zealand and throughout the world, with more than
160 countries approving its safe use.
About Agcarm
Agcarm is the industry association of companies which manufacture, distribute and sell products that keep animals
healthy and crops thriving. Member companies are committed to ensuring that these products are used safely, effectively
and sustainably
ENDS