Given the growing number of reports and lawsuits about Roundup’s dangers, you may be wondering: why is Roundup still being sold?

What Is Roundup?

Roundup is a popular weedkiller manufactured by Monsanto, now owned by Bayer. Its active ingredient is glyphosate—an ingredient that is becoming increasingly controversial across the globe.

Glyphosate is included in more than 130 products sold in Canada. Farmers widely use glyphosate-based weedkillers, including Roundup, to protect their crops from destructive weeds.

Is Roundup Dangerous?

If you are a farmer, a landscaper, or even a home gardener, you may be wondering: is Roundup dangerous? It depends on who you ask.

A major Roundup lawsuit ended in a major victory against Monsanto back in 2018, when jurors found that Monsanto had failed to warn a former school groundskeeper of the risks of Roundup, including the risk of cancer, which led to his diagnosis with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Some major organizations consider Roundup’s active ingredient glyphosate to be a human carcinogen—that is, a substance capable of causing cancer in humans.

More than two dozen countries so far have banned the use of glyphosate. Some states in the U.S. have banned glyphosate usage as well, though this hasn’t occurred at the federal level yet. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer lists glyphosate as a “probable human carcinogen.” However, the Canadian government has not yet banned Roundup.

Why is Roundup Still on the Market?

So why is Roundup still being sold? Health Canada scientists continue to maintain that glyphosate, Roundup’s active ingredient, is not carcinogenic. Non-government scientists and activists disagree, claiming that the government’s official research was compromised by Monsanto scientists.

In early 2019, Health Canada again rejected arguments that glyphosate is capable of causing cancer in humans. This came after Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency reassessed glyphosate for use as an herbicide back in 2017, a process the agency undergoes with herbicides every 15 years. The assessment review process looked at more than 1,300 studies and determined that glyphosate products like Roundup do not pose a risk if they are used as the label instructs.

In response to this 2017 assessment, eight objections were filed, arguing that the evidence demonstrating glyphosate’s safety was tainted by Monsanto’s influence. Groups that fought back against the assessment included Ecojustice, Environmental Defense, and Canadian Physicians for the Environment. These groups wanted Health Minister Ginette Petipas Taylor to order an independent review of the Health Canada assessment.

Instead of an independent review, Health Canada assigned 20 scientists that were not part of the initial review to look into the assessment.

“The objections raised did not create doubt or concern regarding the scientific basis for the 2017 re-evaluation decision for glyphosate,” said Connie Moase, a director in the health-effects division of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency.

Bayer Canada is pleased with the result of the reassessment.

“We have an unwavering commitment to sound science, transparency and to producing valuable tools that will help farmers continue to feed a growing population in a sustainable manner,” said Trish Jordan, the public-and-industry-affairs director for the crop-science division of Bayer Canada.

But the environmental groups who initially took issue with Health Canada’s 2017 glyphosate review have not been satisfied. “How can we trust the science if we can’t be sure that it’s independent?” said Ecojustice’s Elaine MacDonald.

Muhannad Malas, from Environmental Defense, said that if Health Canada has its own scientists reviewing their peers’ work, there is no reason to trust these results any more than those from the initial review.

“We maintain that the public cannot be confident about the validity of the government’s decision to re-authorize glyphosate unless the health minister strikes an independent panel of experts who are not affiliated with Health Canada or industry,” said Malas.

In the U.S., the U.S. Food and Drug Administration faces similar accusations over its official stance that glyphosate is not considered a human carcinogen.

What to Do With Your Old Roundup Products

Do not flush chemicals, including glyphosate, down your toilet, sink, or drain, and do not dispose of them in the environment, especially near water. Instructions on the container should inform you how to dispose of excess weedkiller, or find out by calling your local waste company.

Herbicides can often be disposed of for free at household hazardous waste drop-off sites, which often include designated fire stations. Make sure you bring the product for disposal in a sealed, spill-proof container that is clearly labeled.

How to Join a Roundup Lawsuit

Monsanto—and now, Bayer—has been hit with thousands of lawsuits over allegations of Roundup related cancer.

If you are a Canadian citizen and have been diagnosed with cancer after having been exposed to Roundup, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot undo the pain and suffering caused by a cancer diagnosis, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, especially after a cancer diagnosis, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced lawyer. Consulting a lawyer can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.