Glyphosate: Science or the Law

For farmers, weeds are much more than just an eye sore. Along with bugs and plant disease, weeds are a “pest” that damage crops and ruin harvests. Weeds cause problems in farm fields because they steal water, sunlight and nutrients from the crops farmers are working hard to grow.

To help farmers protect their crops from weeds, Monsanto offers a variety of solutions. One of our popular products is called glyphosate, which is the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup® branded agricultural herbicides. Farmers, as well as homeowners and others, have been using Roundup® and other glyphosate products for more than 40 years.

Glyphosate has been a breakthrough for farming. Not only do glyphosate products work really well on weeds, but they also help farmers grow crops more sustainably.

Glyphosate in Kenya
At an agrovet shop in downtown Nairobi, James Mutegi, an agronomist, pulls out 26 glyphosphate-based herbicide brands from the shelves. Farmers use them as postemergence systemic herbicides to control weeds.

Many farmers we talked to were not weary of the ongoing debates about their safety. We found them using the herbicide without protective gear, oblivious of the dangers they were exposing themselves to.

Samuel Sigei, a farmer at Kapkormom in Kericho County, has been using the glysophate-based herbicide for nearly 20 years, and prides himself as someone who is fairly knowledgeable on current affairs. “I handle this chemical every year. It causes dizziness and nausea, which is pronounced if you use it in sunny weather, but I have never thought much of it,” he exclaimed, adding that farmers have learnt to use it at dawn, just as the sun rises, to fight these effects. Like many of his peers, Mr Sigei handles the herbicide without proper protective clothing. He only wears a heavy trench coat, which is not waterproof as required, and doesn’t cover his mouth and nostrils.

The popular chemical clears bushes and grass from his four-acre farm before ploughing is convenient. He has trusted and depended on its effectiveness for years. He ponders turning to four other brands, but questions their safety too.

What is Glyphosate? 
Glyphosate is one of the herbicide active ingredients approved for weed management on crops and non-crop uses globally. Unlike most herbicides, glyphosate controls both grass and broadleaf weeds, making it one of the most important tools for weed management.

Glyphosate –based herbicides have been used safely and successfully for over decades worldwide, and are valuable tool to help farmers deliver crops to markets and practice sustainable farming by reducing soil tillage , soil erosion and carbon emissions.

There are more than fifty glyphosatecontaining herbicide products registered by the pest products Board (PCPB) for use in Kenya.

What is the concern of the Kenya Public?
In 2015, the international Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic” in humans (Category 2A) IARC also put common everyday substances like red meat and hot beverages. Professions like “being a barber” and activities like burning of wood in the same category.

However , three other world Health Organization “WHO” bodies have reached contrary conclusions including ; the world Health Organizations International Programme on Chemical Safety”, Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR), and Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality.

The classification by IARC of glyphosate as a probable carcinogen has however triggered public interest on the safety of the molecule, including the on-going court cases in the US that have elicited global attention.

This pressure is gradually spilling over to Africa, including Kenya, thus threatening the availability of a safe and effective ingredient for weed control and sustainable agriculture.

The Agrochemicals Association of Kenya (AAK) is aware of the jury’s verdict in the glyphosate related cases in the US. The cases are not yet concluded, as the verdicts have been appealed.

The pesticide industry in Kenya understands the level of from Kenyan public in view of these cases. we wish, however, to point out that there is overwhelming evidence from over for decades of extensive scientific research involving more than 800 studies on the safety of glyphosate, which has led to the conclusions of regulators worldwide that glyphosate is not carcinogenic. This has enabled its approval for use in more than 160 countries globally.

Regulatory decisions outside Kenya concerning glyphosate after the IARC classification 
A number of highly reputable regulatory authorities worldwide have re-evaluated the carcinogenicity of glyphosate after IARC published its classification in 2015. Upon scrutiny of a very large body of scientific evidence and regulatory data (Including the information evaluated by IARC), they have concluded that glyphosate is not carcinogenic to humans.

These include the European Food Safety Authorities (EFSA, 2017), the US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA, 2016), the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary medicines Authority (APVMA, 2016), Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA, 2019), the Brazilian health regulatory agency (ANVISA, 2018)and the New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA, 2016), among others.

A recent epidemiologic long-term study conducted by the independent national cancer institute in the US, which followed over 50000 pesticide applicators for more than 20 years found no association between glyphosate –based herbicides and cancer.

In addition, the joint FAO/ WHO Meeting on pesticide residues (or JMPR) included in 2016 that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk to human from exposure through the diet.

Glyphosate has been evaluated and approved in Kenya 
Pestcodes are among the most regulated items in the world PCBP is the body mandated by the Pesticide Control Act (Cap 346) to regulate the importation, manufacture, exportation, transportation, storage and use of pesticides. All pesticides registered for use in Kenya including glyphosate, go through a rigorous risk assessment prior to approval by the PCBP. The assessments are based of these products by the toxicological environmental fate and residue data submitted in support of these products by the applicants in a accordance with the pest control products (PCP) regulations.

In addition to the local approval process, Kenya is a signatory to key international conventions on chemical safety , such as the Rotterdam Convention (for prior informed consent on import and export of chemicals) and the Stockholm convention (on persistent organic pollutants), among others. These conventions develop lists of banned and restricted chemicals following developed guidelines and criteria for hazard and risk assessment for the protection of the safety of people and the environment. All parties to these conventions should adhere to the conclusions of the conventions. The pest control products board is the designate national authority (DNA) for pesticides for these conventions.

AAK position on glyphosate 
On the basis of current scientific evidence, glyphosate –based products pose no undue health risks, including cancer, to the Kenyan public. This in line with the conclusion of regulatory authorities around the world.

As a general precaution, AAK advocates for uses of personal protective’s, equipment when using any pesticide, as guided by the pest control products labeling guidelines, in order to reduce exposure. The industry had been active in training farmers and agro-dealers, including spray service providers, on safe due of pesticides. These efforts are geared towards protecting communities and the environment against potential hazards of chemicals.

We direct any persons wishing to get further information on this subject to contact PCPB/ Relevant authorities. As industry, we remain open and available to discuss relevant concerns with any interested stakeholders and continue to partnership with the nation’s government and food value chain stakeholders and remain steadfast in our community to Kenyan Farmers to not only access safe and effective plant science technology and stewardship throughout the value chain.

Glyphosate safety study reports Available 
Bayer welcomes a science-based discussion with regulators around the globe, the international research community, as well as with consumers on the safety profile of glyphosate. To that end, all 107 Bayer-owned glyphosate safety study reports that were submitted to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as part of the substance authorization process in the European Union (EU) are now accessible on Bayer’s dedicated transparency platform. In doing so, the company delivers on its commitment to more transparency, including its crop protection safety studies following the acquisition of Monsanto. Many of these and other similar studies were submitted to and evaluated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency during its own risk assessment of glyphosate.

“Transparency is a catalyst for trust, so more transparency is a good thing for consumers, policymakers and businesses. As an innovation company, safety is our top priority and we are completely committed to doing everything we can to ensure that our products are safe for people and the environment,” said Liam Condon, member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and president of the Crop Science Division. “By making our detailed scientific safety data available, we encourage anyone interested to see for themselves how comprehensive our approach to safety is. We embrace the opportunity to engage in dialogue so we can build more trust in sound science.”

Bayer welcomes science-based discussion with regulators, researchers and the public.