Roundup (glyphosate) can still be used, despite the EPA withdrawing the weedkiller's interim approval

Glyphosate, the main ingredient in the popular weedkiller Roundup, can still be used likely through 2026, despite the Friday withdrawal of the Environmental Protection Agency's interim approval of the herbicide — which is the subject of hundreds of lawsuits alleging that the chemical causes cancer, reports Chuck Abbott for Successful Farming.

Applying Roundup. (Photo by Jen Russell, Farm Journal)

The withdrawal comes after a June decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit found that the EPA didn't have enough facts when the agency ruled in 2020 that the weedkiller likely did not cause cancer. In that decision, the court gave the EPA an Oct. 1 deadline to develop a new ecological risk assessment for the chemical. However, the EPA said in a court filing that it could not meet that deadline and would focus instead "on completing the periodic review of glyphosate required by law, most likely in 2026," Abbott reported.

Although the EPA's withdrawal of its interim approval of the chemical "that does not automatically mean that EPA’s underlying scientific findings regarding glyphosate — including its finding that glyphosate is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans — are either incorrect or cannot be used as support for a future decision following reconsideration in accordance with the court’s decision," the agency said.

The EPA said it “intends to revisit and better explain its evaluation of the carcinogenic potential of glyphosate and to consider whether to do so for other aspects of its human health analysis.” Plus, Abbott reported that the agency would also study the effects of the chemical on endangered species.

“What EPA should do instead is cancel glyphosate products until and unless it re-assesses its risks and assures its safety in a lawful way,” attorney Amy Van Saun of the Center for Food Safety, one of the environmental groups that challenged the EPA in court, told Abbott.

Laura Campbell, the senior conservation and regulatory relations specialist for Michigan Farm Bureau told Jim Wiesemeyer of Farm Journal that it's "important for farmers to know that label restrictions for glyphosate are not changing right now.”