The Environmental Protection Agency has kicked off comment periods on two glyphosate-related matters — one a proposed interim registration decision and one a petition to eliminate its use as a pre-harvest dessicant for oats.
In its registration review document, EPA proposed changes “to reduce off-target spray drift and establish a baseline level of protection … that is consistent across all glyphosate products. Reducing spray drift will reduce the extent of environmental exposure and risk to non-target plants and animals.”
The document also reaffirmed the agency’s conclusion that glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer.
The petition was submitted in September by the Environmental Working Group, which was joined by food and nutrition companies including MegaFood, Ben & Jerry’s and Stonyfield Farm. It seeks a ban on the use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant on oats and a lowering of the allowable glyphosate residue on oats from 30 parts per million to 0.1 ppm.
Comments on the proposed interim registration review decision are due July 5. Comments on the petition are due June 5.
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