Here are the latest developments on glyphosate-based herbicides I can summarize from recent public reporting (through early 2026):
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Major retractions and renewed scrutiny of foundational safety studies: A landmark 25-year-old study underpinning glyphosate safety has faced retractions and ongoing debate about potential conflicts of interest and data sources. This has intensified calls for independent, up-to-date reviews of glyphosate’s cancer risk profile by regulatory authorities.[1][2]
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Regulatory ecosystem and safety assessments under pressure: Among policymakers and health agencies, there is growing momentum to reassess glyphosate’s risk, with litigation and advocacy groups urging faster and more transparent reviews. Some agencies reiterate that current evaluations deem glyphosate unlikely to pose cancer risk at approved exposure levels, but acknowledged reassessment pressures are mounting.[2][1]
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Global perspectives and activism: International campaigns and NGOs continue to highlight potential health and environmental concerns linked to glyphosate use, including research suggesting effects at exposure levels previously deemed safe and concerns about its broader ecological impacts. These voices are increasingly shaping public debate and policy proposals in various jurisdictions.[4][5][7]
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Market use and regulatory status: Glyphosate remains widely used worldwide, including in North America and Europe, with ongoing demonstrations of both continued utility for farmers and heightened scrutiny about long-term health and environmental effects. National assessments (e.g., Health Canada, European regulators) continue to review latest data while balancing agricultural needs and public health concerns.[10][2]
Illustration (example): If you’d like, I can generate a simple chart comparing key regulatory milestones, recent study withdrawals, and notable lawsuits by region to visualize how the conversation has evolved over time.
Would you like a concise timeline of the major events, or a country-by-country snapshot of current regulatory stances? I can also pull more specific articles from reputable outlets if you want deeper detail.
Citations:
- Retraction and regulatory review discussions around glyphosate safety studies.[1]
- Canadian and international reassessments and related news coverage.[2]
- Ongoing global coverage and activism surrounding glyphosate’s safety and use.[5][7][4]
- Regulatory and health authority positions on cancer risk in evaluated exposure scenarios.[10]
Sources
The journal Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology retracted the paper last week, citing documents made public through litigation in the U.S. The retraction notice cited documents made public through litigation in the U.S. that suggest employees of Monsanto, which makes Roundup, may have helped write the article without proper acknowledgment — a practice known as ghostwriting. The retraction notice said the conclusions on whether glyphosate causes cancer were "solely based on unpublished...
www.cbc.caA comprehensive carcinogenicity study on the world’s most used herbicide, glyphosate, involving scientists from Europe and the U.S., has found that low doses of the controversial weed killer cause multiple types of cancer in rats.
publichealth.gmu.eduEffects found at doses considered safe by regulatory agencies
www.gmwatch.orgNew paper is "critical step forward in filling knowledge gaps of glyphosate carcinogenicity in humans". Report: Claire Robinson
www.gmwatch.orgCheck out this page via the Business and Human Rights Centre
www.business-humanrights.orgFriends of the Earth Australia (FoEA) believes that social and environmental issues cannot be separated from each other. As a result, FoEA is a social and environmental justice organisation. We seek to work toward a sustainable and equitable future, and to operate in a way that empowers individuals and communities. This means that all members of FoEA operates on a collective basis, and utilises the consensus decision-making model to work towards the aims and objectives of the federation, and...
www.foe.org.auProblems with a 25-year-old landmark paper on the safety of Roundup's active ingredient, glyphosate, have led to calls for the E.P.A. to reassess the widely used chemical.
www.nytimes.com