March 1, 2019
Health Canada issues statement on glyphosate
Health Canada issued a public statement in January following objections to its 2017 re-evaluation of glyphosate.
“No pesticide regulatory authority in the world currently considers glyphosate to be a cancer risk to humans at the levels at which humans are currently exposed,” the government agency said. “We continue to monitor for new information related to glyphosate, including regulatory actions from other governments, and will take appropriate action if risks of concern to human health or the environment are identified.”
The 2017 “Re-evaluation Decision RVD2017-01, Glyphosate” found:
- “Glyphosate is not genotoxic and is unlikely to pose a human cancer risk.
- Dietary (food and drinking water) exposure associated with the use of glyphosate is not expected to pose a risk of concern to human health.
- Occupational and residential risks associated with the use of glyphosate are not of concern, provided that updated label instructions are followed.
- The environmental assessment concluded that spray buffer zones are necessary to mitigate potential risks to non-target species (for example, vegetation near treated areas, aquatic invertebrates and fish) from spray drift.
- When used according to revised label directions, glyphosate products are not expected to pose risks of concern to the environment.
- All registered glyphosate uses have value for weed control in agriculture and non-agricultural land management.”
- Eight of Canada’s 10 provinces currently have restrictions on the use of glyphosate.