Title: NZ court challenge over toxicity of Roundup launched
[The Post 8 Oct 2024] -- The New Zealand Government’s environment watchdog will have to defend in court a decision not to review a key ingredient in weedkillers. Earlier this year, the Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) had asked the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to reassess glyphosate ‒ the most commonly used herbicide in the world. Roundup is the most recognised brand in New Zealand, although there are around 90 herbicides approved for use. The environmental lawyers argued the chemical was first approved for use in the 1970s, prior to the establishment of the EPA, and has not been reassessed since. That’s despite new scientific evidence that links the subject to the development of cancer, impacts on the human nervous and endocrine systems, and negative effects on ecosystems and wildlife. Senior legal adviser Tess Upperton said a growing body of scientific evidence pointed to harm to human health and the environment and a comprehensive risk assessment was “well overdue”. Continue reading here.
