Advocacy group No More Glyphosate NZ says major scientific and regulatory questions remain unresolved despite the withdrawal of a Court of Appeal challenge against the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) over glyphosate reassessment in New Zealand.
The legal action, brought by the Environmental Law Initiative, challenged the EPA’s handling of glyphosate reassessment processes. However, campaigners argue the court case focused on whether the EPA followed lawful procedures, rather than determining whether glyphosate itself is safe or unsafe.
No More Glyphosate NZ said concerns remained over whether glyphosate-based herbicides had ever undergone a full modern reassessment in New Zealand. The group also pointed to differences between glyphosate as a chemical compound and commercial products such as Roundup, arguing formulation ingredients and co-formulants required closer scrutiny.
The organisation further highlighted the recent retraction of a scientific paper previously cited in support of glyphosate safety assessments, alongside growing concerns about herbicide resistance developing in farming systems.
The EPA has previously maintained that glyphosate remains approved for use in New Zealand under existing regulatory controls.
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