On May 31, 2017, leading toxicologist and environmental engineer Christopher Portier sent a letter to the EC denouncing the poor scientific quality of the European Union's research into glyphosate. Last month, the EC decided to reauthorize glyphosate for 10 more years after the EFSA and the European Chemicals Agency found that exposure to glyphosate in food products was not harmful to human health. Glyphosate is the most widespread herbicide in the world. In particular, Portier argued that the EU agencies did not take into account observations of increased cancer rates after exposure to glyphosate. To his letter, he attached a complete list of all the data not previously reviewed by EFSA and asked the Agencies to examine them and correct their conclusions.
The EC restated its position that there was currently no reason to doubt the evaluation of the EU Agencies but announced the Agencies would respond to Portier's letter.
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