Glyphosate Issue Paper: Evaluation of carcinogenic potential

Glyphosate is a non-selective, phosphonomethyl amino acid herbicide registered to control weeds in various agricultural and non-agricultural settings. The herbicide acts by inhibiting the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) enzyme, which is not present in mammalian systems. Glyphosate was initially registered in 1974. Since then, several human health analyses have been completed for glyphosate. In 1986, EPA issued the Glyphosate Registration Standard which updated the agency’s toxicity database for this compound. In 1993, EPA issued the registration eligibility decision (RED) that indicated that glyphosate was eligible for re-registration.