California court rejects challenge of state’s decision to label glyphosate herbicide as possible carcinogen

A state appeals court on [April 19] backed California’s listing of the widely used herbicide glyphosate as a possible cause of cancer and the state’s prohibition against discharging it into public waterways.

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Citing new findings by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, state health officials added glyphosate to their list of potential carcinogens in July 2017….

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Monsanto, backed by agricultural groups, immediately challenged the listing in both state and federal court. In February, a federal judge in Sacramento blocked the state from requiring Monsanto to put a warning label on glyphosate products, an action that had been scheduled to take effect in July.

U.S. District Judge William Shubb said the international agency’s findings had been contradicted by other studies, including one by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that found no link to cancer.

[The April 19] ruling involved a separate issue, Monsanto’s claim that the state was illegally delegating lawmaking powers to an unaccountable foreign agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In rejecting that argument, the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Fresno preserved California’s authority to list glyphosate as a possible carcinogen and prohibit discharge of the chemical into waterways.

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Monsanto could ask the state Supreme Court to review the ruling.

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