HHS Joined EPA Glyphosate Safety Review
The Department of Health and Human Services will provide expertise to the EPA as it evaluates the herbicide.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Nutrition
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The Department of Health and Human Services has joined the Environmental Protection Agency in a federal review of the safety of the widely used herbicide glyphosate. The agencies aim to determine the carcinogenic potential of the chemical, which remains essential to U.S. corn and soybean production.
Why it matters
The administration views a secure supply of the herbicide as vital to national economic and food security. The ongoing review comes as federal officials continue to balance concerns over human health with the agricultural sector's reliance on chemical-based crop management.
The EPA expects to conclude its evaluation of whether glyphosate is carcinogenic by early 2027. This study follows a 2018 jury judgment of $289 million against Monsanto, a firm later acquired by Bayer.
The players
Environmental Protection Agency
This federal agency is responsible for protecting human health and the environment by regulating chemicals like herbicides.
Department of Health and Human Services
This cabinet-level executive department is providing scientific expertise to support federal herbicide safety reviews.
Bayer
This multinational pharmaceutical and life sciences company acquired Monsanto in 2018.
Donald Trump
He is the current President of the United States who signed an executive order to increase domestic glyphosate production.
U.S. Supreme Court
This is the highest judicial body in the United States and has final authority over federal preemption of state laws.
The details
Health officials will contribute scientific expertise to assist the EPA, which maintains authority over the regulation of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. This collaborative effort follows a June 2026 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found state-level claims against the herbicide are preempted by federal law.
Timeline
A California jury awarded a $289 million judgment against Monsanto in 2018.
President Trump signed an executive order regarding glyphosate production in February 2026.
The Supreme Court issued its ruling on state court glyphosate claims in June 2026.
The EPA expects to complete its carcinogenicity evaluation in early 2027.
The Big Picture
The assessment of herbicide safety operates under the regulatory framework of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, which governs how federal agencies preempt state-level failure-to-warn legal challenges. This story highlights the application of the act in the context of recent judicial rulings limiting state court oversight of chemical safety.
The federal review may eventually influence regulatory requirements for agricultural products, though there is no immediate change to grocery pricing or availability. Farmers and those involved in the supply chain should monitor the timeline for final EPA findings in 2027.
The takeaway
The federal government is centralizing the scientific and legal evaluation of glyphosate to provide consistency for the agricultural industry. Consumers should be aware that the regulatory landscape is shifting toward federal oversight rather than state-level litigation.
Further reading
For more information on chemical regulations and food standards, visit the Nutrition section.
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Should federal regulators prioritize chemical safety reviews over expanding domestic agricultural production?
