CropLife Asia Reacts to Vietnam Decision to Ban Glyphosate

Singapore, 10 April 2019 – In response to today’s announcement that the Vietnam Government will place a ban on the crop protection product known as glyphosate, CropLife Asia, the regional voice of the plant science industry, issued the following statement.

The decision to take a safe and effective herbicide like glyphosate out of the hands of farmers signals a detour from the great progress and advancements made by Vietnam agriculture in this young century.

Most discouraging in today’s decision is the process that yielded it. There were no consultations with the nation’s farmers and larger agricultural sector; no discussions with national or global experts; and no new scientific data to support taking this detour.

To the contrary, the overwhelming evidence strongly supports ensuring Vietnam’s 25 million farmers continue to have access to safe and effective herbicides like glyphosate. A study recently conducted by the United Kingdom’s PG Economics Limited indicates farmers across Asia, including Vietnam, would see significant input cost increases if restrictions on glyphosate were put in place. Specifically, PG Economics estimates additional weed control costs for Asia’s farmers without the benefits of glyphosate would tally between US$1.4 and US$1.9 billion.

Meanwhile, more than 800 comprehensive scientific studies around the world have been conducted on glyphosate. The result is a very strong safety profile over the course of four decades that has enabled its approval for use in more than 160 countries globally. Some of the higher-profile regulatory agencies which have repeatedly found it safe for use include: the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA); the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA); the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the Australia Pesticide and Veterinary Medicine Authority (APVMA); and the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residue.

CropLife Asia will continue to pledge its partnership with the nation’s government and food value chain stakeholders in the shared journey ahead; and we will also remain steadfast in our commitment to Vietnam Farmers in ensuring their access to safe and effective plant science technology.