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Bayer Statement on Release of the ATSDR Draft Toxicological Profile for Glyphosate

April 8, 2019 in Media Statements

Bayer released the following statement regarding the release of a draft toxicological profile for glyphosate by the Agency for Toxic Substances and and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

“We welcome this scientific review of glyphosate, the active ingredient in many of our Roundup-branded products. It is important to recognize that this is a review of the existing scientific literature on glyphosate; it does not contain new or original science. Our scientists are reviewing the report, and we plan to provide comments during the 90-day public comment period.

“Significantly, the report contains a summary of eight international agency assessments of carcinogenicity (table 2-13, page 94) that, with the one exception of IARC, conclude that glyphosate is not carcinogenic. The table reinforces the basis for Bayer’s confidence in the safety of glyphosate, as regulators around the world who have reviewed the extensive science on glyphosate continue to conclude that it is safe for use and is not carcinogenic. And, IARC remains an outlier. The ATSDR profile also notes that “most studies found no association between exposure to glyphosate-based products and risk of cancer.”

Bayer today provided an update on its five-point plan to address future Roundup™ litigation risk after its May 27th decision to withdraw from the national class process. The company is now in more control of important aspects of the risk mitigation process and has sketched out two basic scenarios going forward to provide a path to closure of this litigation. The first scenario is based on obtaining a favorable decision by the United States Supreme Court on a cross-cutting issue like federal preemption which would effectively and largely end the U.S. Roundup™ litigation. The second scenario assumes that the Supreme Court either declines to hear the Hardeman case or issues a ruling in favor of plaintiff – in that case the company would activate its own claims administration program.

Read about the five-point plan here.