b'U.S.-approved pesticides that are labeledphosate is nothing more than a replay of with EPA-sanctioned labels. While the billDDT with its similar pronouncements of would not have prohibited lawsuits basedcertifiedsafeandcompletelyharm-on other claims, the failure to warn claimless. 8 Some experts attribute tens of thou-is one of the strongest and most often usedsands of deaths to glyphosate usage. 9legal claims asserted against Bayer. We canThe science against glyphosate is com-all thank the Idaho Conservation League,pelling. In 2008, a study by eminent oncol-the Northwest Center for Alternatives toogists Dr. Lennart Hardell and Dr. Mikael Pesticides, the Idaho Trial Lawyers Associ- Eriksson of Sweden revealed clear links ation, the Idaho Organization of Resourcebetween glyphosate and non-Hodgkins Councils, and Vision 2C Resource Coun- lymphoma, a form of cancer. 10This study cil, as well as numerous farmers and othersupported the earlier findings of a Danish individuals, for their strong and persistentteam that showed Roundup caused chro-opposition to this sham legislation. 2 As of February 22, 2024, the House bill hasmosomal aberrations; and of course the In Iowa, Senate Bill 3163 is similar toonly reached the stage of a second reading.principal active component in Roundup the Idaho bill. Sponsored by Bayer, it alsoOpposition to this bill has also formed. is glyphosate. 11prohibits lawsuits against pesticide man- Other studies have shown links between ufacturers on a failure to warn claim,Why You Must Act exposure to many commonly used pesti-stating, in pertinent part, that, a labelIf these and other State immunity billscides, such as chlorpyrifos and glyphosate, provides sufficient warning if it compliespass, then expect to be drenched in pesti- and chronic and degenerative health prob-with any one of three criteria: (1) it wascides. Already over1 billion poundsof pes- lems including cancer, Parkinsons disease, approved by the EPA, (2) it is consistentticides are used in the United States eachbrain underdevelopment, and even erectile with the most recent human health assess- and every year, while approximately5.6dysfunction. And that is just on humans ment performed under the federal Act, orbillion poundsare used worldwide. 4 Onalone.(3) it is consistent with the EPAs carcino- January 24, 2017, the United Nations (UN)At numerous Codex Alimentarius meet-genicity classification for the pesticide. Inpublished a report in which it stated thatings from Hong Kong to Rome, I argued each case, the label is sufficient to satisfyalthough pesticide use has correlated withalone against the use of chlorpyrifos, gly-any requirements for a warning regardinga rise in food production, it has hadcata- phosate, and dozens of other pesticides and health or safety. On February 15, 2024,strophicimpacts upon human health andherbicides. Too often, all I received for my the Iowa Senate Committee on Agriculturethe environment. The report went on totrouble were ripples of barely suppressed approved the bill in its report to the Statesay that increased food production haslaughter from the industry front groups Senate. There is growing opposition to thisnot succeeded in eliminating hunger world- present there. The pesticide industrys in-bill, as with the Idaho bill.wide. Reliance on hazardous pesticidesfluence is both implacable and global.InMissouri,HouseBill2763tracksis a short-term solution that undermines closely the Idaho and Iowa bills. It statesthe rights to adequate food and health forWhat You Can Doin its subpart 10 that, any pesticide reg- present and future generations. In fact,Actually, volumes could be (and have istered by the United States Environmen- the UN blames pesticides for poisoning atbeen)writtenaboutpesticideharmto tal Protection Agency under the Federalleast 200,000 people each year. 5 I think thathumans, animals, insects, and the envi-Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Actfigure is very conservative. 6 ronment as a whole. This relatively brief (FIFRA), a pesticide label approved by theTouted as an all-purpose weed killer,article cannot do the subject justice. How-United States Environmental Protectionglyphosate tops the list of poisons appliedever, what we do know is that granting Agency, or a pesticide label consistent withevery day to plants and soil that in turn de- blanket immunity to pesticide manufactur-the most recent human health assessmentstroy humans, animals, and our environ- erswhich is essentially what these State performedunderFIFRA,orconsistentment. Some 9.4 million tons of glyphosatebills would doposes an existential threat with the United States Environmental Pro- have been spread on our fields. It is in ourto us all. We also know that each and every tection Agency carcinogenicity classifica- water table, our soil, crops, the food indus- one of us can take action now to stop these tion of the pesticide under FIFRA, shall betry, and over 90% of Westerners have it inbills from passing.sufficient to satisfy any requirement for atheir bodies and even breastmilk. In fact,The National Health Federation has warning label regarding health or safety or33% of our bread contains glyphosate, thecampaigns that are both easy to access and any other provision of current law. Again,Worlds biggest-selling weed killer. 7 De- to use in sending your thoughts to the State this bill, if enacted into law, would kick thespite industry assurances that glyphosaterepresentatives in Iowa and Missouri. For legs out from under most lawsuits againstis safe and environmentally friendly,Iowa, go to: https://hosted-page.civiclick.Bayer and other pesticide corporations. 3thereisincreasingawarenessthatgly- com/?campaign_ref=5215; and for Mis-8 H ealtHF reedomN ews /s priNg2024'