IARC misclassification of glyphosate as Group 2A probable carcinogen

RALEIGH, N.C., March 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The IARC Group 2A misclassification is not consistent with the conclusions reached by other evaluations carried out by regulatory authorities and other authoritative scientific bodies across the world, all of which have concluded that glyphosate does not cause cancer.  As recently as January, the German government completed a four-year study of glyphosate on behalf of the European Union and concluded that glyphosate was unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk in humans.  It is baffling that IARC arrived at such a different conclusion than all these other scientific reviews. Importantly, IARC did not consider any new or unique research findings when making its decision. It appears that only by deciding to exclude certain available scientific information and by adopting a different approach to interpreting the studies was this possible.

The decision reached by IARC only took into account a narrow selection of studies and was therefore made without the benefit of analyzing the extensive and relevant database on glyphosate relied upon by the world's regulatory authorities and the WHO's own IPCS program. On reviewing all of this available data, both published and unpublished, regulatory authorities have consistently concluded that glyphosate does not cause cancer in either animals or humans.  The studies not included in the IARC evaluation were generated using validated test methods in laboratories subjected to regular audit procedures, as prescribed by regulatory authorities and are of the highest quality. They provide clear evidence that glyphosate does not have carcinogenic properties. Most peer-reviewed literature and other publicly available information such as the evaluations, opinions and conclusions of competent regulatory authorities were also dismissed.  Further, the methodology utilized by IARC for interpreting the selection of studies the panel relied upon appears to depart from the "weight of evidence" approach that is being utilized by modern evaluation; we understand that IARC took a "worst case" approach.

The Joint Glyphosate Task Force respectfully requests that IARC immediately meet with global regulatory authorities to disclose what studies IARC did or did not consider in making its decision.  The conclusion reached is not consistent with scientific studies that have been conducted over more than 40 years.

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