Farmers Roundly Welcome Weedkiller Court Decision

Agricultural groups have broadly welcomed a Federal Court finding that common weedkiller Roundup cannot be proven to cause cancer, saying it reinforces its safety for use in food production. Justice Michael Lee ruled on July 25 there was not enough evidence to say glyphosate—the active ingredient in Roundup—was capable of causing non-Hodgkin lymphoma in humans. A class action led by Maurice Blackburn included more than 800 Australian cancer patients. Glyphosate is one of the most common products farmers and home gardeners use to kill weeds, and is registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority. “The decision from the Federal Court … reinforces that our regulator is doing its job to ensure the health and safety of our farmers, communities, and environment,” National Farmers’ Federation president David Jochinke said in a statement....