Glyphosate Ban

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, the most commonly used herbicide in agriculture. Several studies have linked glyphosate to an increased risk of cancer. It has been banned or restricted in some American cities and foreign countries because of human health and environmental concerns.

Key takeaways about glyphosate bans

• Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, the most commonly used herbicide in agriculture. Roundup is made by Monsanto, a subsidiary of Bayer.
• Several U.S. cities and foreign countries have banned or restricted the use of glyphosate due to concerns it is a carcinogen (cancer causer). Several studies have linked glyphosate to an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), a potentially fatal cancer.
• While advocates continue to push for glyphosate bans, thousands of plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against Monsanto and Bayer, arguing glyphosate exposure has caused them severe and life-altering medical conditions.

What is glyphosate?

Glyphosate is an herbicide commonly used in agriculture, forestry and on lawns and gardens. It controls the spread of broadleaf weeds and grasses. Monsanto has included glyphosate in formulations of its popular weedkiller, Roundup, since 1974.

Glyphosate works by preventing plants from producing some of the proteins they need to grow. Products containing glyphosate are often applied to:

• Crops grown from glyphosate-resistant Roundup Ready® seeds genetically engineered and sold by Monsanto, including canola, corn, cotton and soybeans
• Fruit and vegetable crops
• Plantings, lawns, greenhouse plants, aquatic plants and forest plantings

In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” The IARC is the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite this, Monsanto continues to make, market and sell products containing the chemical.

What are the dangers of glyphosate herbicide?

Glyphosate poisoning can cause short- and long-term health effects. Short-term effects include skin, nose and throat irritation, eye irritation and superficial corneal injury. When swallowed, it can cause burns and pain in the mouth, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Swallowing glyphosate can also result in death.

Long-term glyphosate-related medical conditions include non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). NHL is a type of cancer that begins in the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system. It causes white blood cells to grow abnormally and form tumors throughout the body. One study found that exposure increased the risk of NHL by 41%.

Where is glyphosate banned?

Many countries have partially banned or proposed bans on herbicides containing glyphosate. For example, Vietnam has fully banned the substance. The Netherlands, Belgium and France have banned its household use.

Germany forbids the use of glyphosate in public spaces. The country instituted a total glyphosate ban from January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024, but it has expired. Columbia and El Salvador also had total bans that were later overturned. In April 2024, Mexico was to become the largest jurisdiction to outlaw glyphosate’s use completely, but the government paused the ban before it went into effect.

Other countries that have restricted or banned glyphosate include:

• Austria
• Bermuda
• Canada
• Columbia
• India
• Luxembourg
• Portugal
• Sri Lanka

Are there glyphosate restrictions in the U.S.?

No — the U.S. has not banned glyphosate. However, farmworkers and environmental advocacy groups have called for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to outlaw glyphosate because of its health and environmental risks. Some states and cities have local laws restricting or prohibiting its use.

The EPA first registered glyphosate in 1974. Since then, the agency has reviewed and reassessed its use and safety as part of a program that reevaluates registered pesticides on a 15-year cycle. In 2020, the EPA considered public complaints about glyphosate as part of this review process. The agency had determined its benefits outweigh its risks. However, the agency suggested updates to product labels to mitigate harm. It suggested including spray drift management language and specific label consistency measures.

The EPA decision was challenged in court in 2022, and the agency ultimately withdrew its recommendations. Bayer announced in 2021 that it would stop selling the glyphosate-based herbicide for residential use in the U.S. by 2023. This decision was based on the growing number of Roundup lawsuits. Products containing glyphosate remain on the market, and product labels have not been affected.

In 2024, the EPA rejected a petition to ban glyphosate brought by environmentalists. The agency stated it would not reassess glyphosate because no new evidence about the chemical’s toxicity had surfaced.

What states in the U.S. ban glyphosate?

The U.S. has not totally banned glyphosate. However, several cities and states have laws regarding its use, including:

• California: California has not issued a statewide ban on glyphosate. However, it became the first state in the nation to issue warnings on glyphosate. The state added it to the Proposition 65 list of chemicals and substances known to cause cancer. Several cities have outlawed glyphosate use in city parks and other public spaces. Those cities include Burbank, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Irvine, Petaluma, Richmond and Thousand Oaks.
• Connecticut: Public Act 09-56 eliminated the use of pesticides in K-8 schools statewide. Glyphosate is banned or restricted in many towns, including Branford, Cheshire, Granby, Essex, Greenwich, Manchester, Plainville, Roxbury, Watertown and Woodbridge.
• Maryland: Montgomery County has banned the use of all cosmetic pesticides, including glyphosate, on private lawns. Takoma Park has restricted cosmetic pesticides for lawn care on public and private property.
• Minnesota: Commissioners of the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board voted to eliminate all glyphosate-based products from neighborhood parks.
• New Jersey: At least 15 city school districts and over a dozen other parks and recreation departments have enacted Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs to eliminate or reduce pesticide use.
• New York: New York’s Park and Recreation Department has measures to eliminate or reduce pesticide and herbicide use in areas under its control. New Paltz forbids public or private contractors from using toxic herbicides on city-owned lands. Rockland County created a Non-Toxic Pesticide program and Westchester County has a law for pesticide-free parks.

Glyphosate health concerns lead to litigation

As of October 2024, plaintiffs allegedly harmed by glyphosate have filed more than 4,300 Roundup lawsuits against Monsanto and Bayer in the MDL.

Motley Rice involvement

Attorneys with Motley Rice are representing parties injured by glyphosate. One plaintiff was diagnosed with NHL after working with Roundup as a utility mechanic from 1975 to 1987.

The entire time the plaintiff was exposed, he was unaware of the danger to his health. The plaintiff argues Monsanto failed to include warnings about glyphosate and cancer on its products despite having evidence of the risks. As a result of the exposure and his medical condition, the plaintiff has incurred medical expenses and suffered physically, mentally and emotionally, leading to a reduced quality of life.

Read more about Roundup lawsuits here.

Contact a glyphosate attorney at Motley Rice

If you or someone you love was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after being exposed to glyphosate, you may be eligible to seek compensation. Complete our online form or call 1.800.768.4026 to speak with a lawyer about your legal options.

Frequently asked questions about glyphosate

What products use glyphosate?

More than 750 consumer and commercial products containing glyphosate are for sale in the U.S. Monsanto makes several formulations of Roundup containing glyphosate, including:

• Roundup Concentrate Poison Ivy Plus Tough Brush Killer
• Roundup Custom
• Roundup D-Pak
• Roundup Dry Concentrate
• Roundup Export
• Roundup Fence & Hard Edger
• Roundup Garden Foam Weed & Grass Killer
• Roundup Grass and Weed Killer
• Roundup Pro Concentrate
• Roundup Pro Dry
• Roundup Promax
• Roundup Quik Stik Grass and Weed Killer
• Roundup Quikpro
• Roundup Rainfast Concentrate Weed & Grass Killer
• Roundup Rainfast Super Concentrate Weed & Grass Killer
• Roundup Ready-to-Use Extended Control Weed &; Grass Killer Plus Weed Preventer
• Roundup Ready-to-Use Weed & Grass Killer
• Roundup Ultra
• Roundup Ultra Dry
• Roundup Ultramax
• Roundup WSD Water Soluble Dry Herbicide

Because glyphosate weed killers are sprayed on crops, many food and animal products contain trace amounts of the chemical. In a 2020 study, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) found glyphosate in oats and other grains, beans, chickpeas and lentils. Glyphosate has also been detected in foods made from these products, including granola, instant oats, breakfast cereals and snack bars.

When was glyphosate banned?

The U.S. has no national glyphosate ban. In 2015, Sri Lanka was the first country to ban glyphosate completely, but the ban was lifted in 2022. The Netherlands was also an early proponent of banning glyphosate. It passed laws outlawing its use in April 2014 that took effect by the end of 2015.

The six countries that make up the Gulf Cooperation Council (Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait) banned glyphosate in 2016. In 2018, the Punjab, India, government banned the sale of all formulations of glyphosate-based herbicides. Vietnam banned herbicides containing the chemical in 2019.

In 2023, Canada banned glyphosate-based pesticides on federal lands. That same year, the Slovenian government announced its support of a ban.

The European Union has assessed the safety of glyphosate on three separate occasions. In 2023, the European Commission renewed approval of its use until December 15, 2033. Though there is no blanket ban in Europe, some EU states have restricted its use.

Our toxic exposure experience

Motley Rice has helped clients across the country seek justice for injuries caused by toxic exposure and environmental damage. We represent individuals, families, communities and states. Currently, our attorneys are taking Roundup lawsuit claims and advocating for victims harmed by glyphosate.

If you or someone you love suffers from kidney or liver injuries, cancer or another condition linked to dangerous herbicides and pesticides, contact our law firm online or call 1.800.768.4026 to speak with our lawyers about a potential claim.

Read more on our toxic exposure litigation experience.