Is Roundup Banned in Canada?

People wishing to see Roundup banned in Canada will be glad to know that a number of provinces and cities have either restricted or prohibited the herbicide’s use, although as of this writing, the government in Ottawa has not instituted a nationwide ban.

Scientists for Health Canada have reportedly taken the official position that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, poses no threat to human health, despite growing scientific evidence to the contrary.

What Does Glyphosate Do?

As the name indicates, glyphosate is a phosphate (its chemical name is N-phosphonomethyl glycine). It works by inhibiting the action of a specific plant enzyme involved in the synthesis of essential amino acids. When this process is hampered, cell reproduction cannot take place; essentially, the plant becomes sterile, unable to reproduce.

Glyphosate was first developed by a chemist working for Monsanto (now Bayer AG) in the early 1970s. Roundup itself arrived on the market in 1974; over the next quarter-century, the herbicide became the most widely-used crop desiccant in the world. Monsanto’s patent on glyphosate expired in 2000; today, it is found in over 130 different products.

What Disease Does Roundup Cause?

Most of the plaintiffs in approximately 43,000 lawsuits currently pending against Bayer in the U.S. claim that glyphosate caused them to develop a condition known as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Although Bayer continues to deny that there is any danger in glyphosate exposure when used according to instructions, three juries thus far have awarded judgments to plaintiffs ranging from $80 million up to $2 billion (Bayer is appealing all three verdicts).

In 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found glyphosate to be a “likely carcinogen.” More recently, California added glyphosate to its official list of substances “known to cause cancer.”

Glyphosate has also been implicated in autism and fetal injuries.

Where Is Glyphosate Banned in Canada?

Eight of Canada’s 10 provinces have reportedly enacted restrictions on the use of glyphosate in public spaces or by private individuals. Quebec, which has banned the use of glyphosate in forest management, is attempting to prohibit it’s use altogether, while the city of Vancouver, British Columbia has enacted a total ban in public parks and outdoor gardens. In total, 40 Canadian communities have restrictions or bans on glyphosate.

Why Isn’t Glyphosate Banned in Canada Nationwide?

As part of its periodic review of agricultural chemicals, Health Canada’s  Pest Management Regulatory Agency assessed glyphosate in 2017, examining over 1,300 studies. Its conclusion was the same as those of Bayer and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: glyphosate poses no risks when used as directed.  However, several objections have been filed, citing that manufacturer Monsanto had influenced the results (the EPA has faced similar accusations).

Where Else Has Banned Glyphosate?

Canada isn’t the only country considering the potential danger of this active ingredient in Roundup. The U.S. EPA recently evaluated glyphosate again, deciding that it can still be used across the country. This move attracted negative attention from environmentalists who believe that this ingredient is deadly for consumers.

Farmers often rely on the effectiveness of Roundup and glyphosate to help them achieve maximum yields in their crops, but spraying Roundup could be dangerous to their health. There are also questions about whether or not it could remain on crops as they move through the food processing stages.

Glyphosate has been banned in numerous countries around the world as a result of suspicions that it could cause cancer or other medical problems. Germany will completely ban this ingredient by 2023 and is one of the most recent countries to arrive at this conclusion, although there are a few exceptions.

Restrictions on glyphosate use also apply in Austria, Itality, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. The move from Germany was a big one because the country is known throughout Europe as a major agricultural producer, so the banning of products with that ingredient could lead to financial impacts for companies like Bayer, which makes Roundup.

Other countries are continuing to look at research that indicates a possible connection between the use of glyphosate and the development of cancer like non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Future outcomes will likely indicate that other countries might ban the ingredient.

Have Glyphosate Lawsuits Been Filed in Canada?

Glyphosate litigation in Canada is still in its early stages. In November, lawyers from the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario reportedly filed a $500 million class-action lawsuit against Bayer for allegedly failing to warn the public of glyphosate health dangers. Earlier this year, a farmer from Saskatchewan filed a class action lawsuit, claiming that glyphosate caused him to develop NHL. Additional cases are pending.