California’s office of Environmental Protection issued a “notice of intent” to label Monsanto’s highly effective ‘Roundup’ weed herbicide’s key ingredient glyphosate as a cancer causing compound.
Following the World Health Organization cancer research division’s report of ingredients known to cause cancer, the Cal EPA has decided to officially put Roundup’s active ingredient on a list of chemicals hazardous to human health under the state’s ‘Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986.’ The change will require Monsanto to add a “clear and reasonable” warning that its chemical compound is a threat to human life.
The action comes after WHO’s ‘Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)’ in March classified glyphosate as being “probably” carcinogenic to humans. Monsanto immediately launched a campaign to dispute any link to cancer in one of their best selling products since 1974.
Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide used to kill weeds, especially annual broadleaf weeds and grasses known to compete with commercial crops. Monsanto in 2013 received approval from the Obama Administration’s US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the use of glyphosate, claiming the product is health and environment safe, which has since become part of Roundup’s advertising campaign.
Source: California to label Monsanto’s ‘Roundup’ as “Cancer Causing”