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Ninth Circuit Court issues glyphosate ruling

Agriculture groups are applauding a decision from a Ninth Circuit Court that says glyphosate products won’t require a cancer warning label in California.

“We’re just thankful the court made a decision based on the science and facts.”

National Association of Wheat Growers CEO Chandler Goule says the continued attacks on crop protection tools are getting in the way of achieving sustainability and climate goals.

“If glyphosate were to ever be taken off the market, basically all growers would have to go back to tilling up the land and tearing up the soil to plant and control weeds throughout the country.”

NAWG is one of the 12 agriculture plaintiffs that challenged the State of California’s decision to add glyphosate to Proposition 65.

Prop 65 requires businesses to provide warnings to California about significant exposures to chemicals that can cause cancer, birth defects or other harm. The list is updated once each year and includes more than 900 chemicals.

Ag Retailers Association’s Richard Gupton says Prop 65 violations are expensive and could cause more litigation.

“There could be civil penalties up to $2,500 per day for each violation. There could be private or public enforcement action against those entities and activist groups could sue farmers or others saying they are in violation of Prop 65.”

This has been an ongoing legal battle for six years. Gupton and Goule say they are optimistic the legal battle is over, but if it continues, the next step for the case would be the U.S. Supreme Court.