Lexi Webster
Monsanto is an agrochemical company that manufactures the weedkiller Roundup, which contains glyphosate, a chemical that has been linked to cancer. While Monsanto is not banned in Australia, there have been calls for the Australian government to restrict or ban the sale of Roundup due to health concerns. Some Australian states, municipalities, and school districts have taken steps to test alternative herbicides and eliminate glyphosate. Australia's approach to household chemical use differs from Europe, with over 70 chemicals banned in Europe still available in Australia, including in household products.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is Monsanto banned in Australia? | No |
| Is Monsanto's Roundup available in Australia? | Yes, it is widely available in Australian supermarkets and hardware stores. |
| What is the status of Monsanto's Roundup in Australia after the US court ruling in 2018? | Australia was urged to restrict the sale of Monsanto's Roundup. However, it is still approved for use in the country. |
| What are some examples of household chemicals banned overseas but available in Australia? | Carbaryl (Sevin), Metaldehyde, Spinetoram, Beta Cyfluthrin, Neonicotinoids |
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What You'll Learn
- Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller is widely available in Australian stores
- Australia has been urged to restrict the sale of Monsanto's Roundup
- Monsanto's vice president has insisted that Roundup is safe
- Australia takes a relaxed approach to household pesticide use
- More than 70 chemicals banned in Europe are still used in Australia
Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller is widely available in Australian stores
In the wake of the US court decision, Greenpeace called on the Australian government to suspend the sale of Roundup, urging "urgent action" to restrict the product and protect public health. However, some Australian retailers, such as Bunnings Warehouse, have continued to sell Roundup as it is still classified as safe by the government regulator. Monsanto has also defended the safety of its product, insisting that the court verdict does not change the decades of safe use and scientific support for Roundup.
Australia has not implemented a nationwide ban on glyphosate or Roundup, although there are efforts in some states and municipalities to test alternative herbicides and restrict their use. This contrasts with the approach taken by other countries, such as Argentina, Germany, and France, which have banned or restricted the use of glyphosate-based herbicides due to health and environmental concerns.
The availability of Roundup in Australian stores highlights the country's more relaxed approach to household pesticide regulation compared to other regions. While some chemicals banned or restricted overseas are prohibited in Australia, many others remain accessible to consumers. This discrepancy has sparked concerns among advocacy groups and the public about the potential health and environmental risks associated with these products.
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Australia has been urged to restrict the sale of Monsanto's Roundup
Roundup is widely available in Australian supermarkets and hardware stores, and its active ingredient, glyphosate, is the most commonly used herbicide in the world. While it has been banned in some Australian states and municipalities, it is still approved for use in others. In the wake of the US court decision, Greenpeace has called on the Australian government to suspend the sale of Roundup until more studies are conducted. Jamie Hanson, Greenpeace's head of campaigns, said, "Use of this dangerous product should be severely restricted."
Monsanto, however, has insisted that Roundup is safe. Scott Partridge, Monsanto's vice president, stated that the "verdict doesn't change the four-plus decades of safe use and science behind the product." A spokeswoman for Monsanto in Australia supported this statement, saying that regulatory authorities, including Australia, maintain that glyphosate does not cause cancer. Despite the court ruling, some Australian retailers, such as Bunnings Warehouse, have also continued to sell Roundup as it is still classified as safe by the government regulator.
Nevertheless, there is a growing concern in Australia regarding the use of dangerous chemicals in agriculture and household products. Over 70 chemicals banned or no longer used in Europe are still available in Australia, including pesticides and herbicides. This has led to criticism that Australia takes a much more relaxed approach to household chemical use than other countries, potentially exposing its citizens to harmful substances. As a result, there have been increasing calls for stricter regulations and faster action to restrict or ban these chemicals in Australia.
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Monsanto's vice president has insisted that Roundup is safe
Monsanto is an American agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation founded in 1901. Its best-known product is Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide developed in the 1970s. In 2018, Monsanto was acquired by German chemical company Bayer for US$66 billion.
Roundup has been at the centre of numerous lawsuits, with individuals claiming that the product caused their cancer. In 2018, a jury ruled that Roundup caused school groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a fatal blood cell cancer. Monsanto was found liable and ordered to pay Johnson $4.2 billion in damages. The jury also found that Monsanto had known for decades that the product was potentially dangerous and failed to warn Johnson of the risks.
Despite these rulings, Monsanto's vice president, Scott Partridge, has insisted that Roundup is safe. Following the 2018 verdict, Partridge stated that the "verdict doesn’t change the four-plus decades of safe use and science behind the product". Monsanto has continued to stand by the safety of its product, disputing claims that Roundup causes cancer. The company has argued that the litigation reinforces the safety of its products, pointing to its record in Roundup-related trials.
In Australia, where Roundup is widely available in supermarkets and hardware stores, Greenpeace has called on the government to suspend the sale of the product until further studies are conducted. However, a spokeswoman for Monsanto in Australia has reiterated that regulatory authorities, including those in Australia, support the fact that glyphosate does not cause cancer. As of 2018, the Australian government regulator had not removed Roundup from sale, and it was still approved for use in the country.
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Australia takes a relaxed approach to household pesticide use
Australia has not banned Monsanto, and its product Roundup is still approved for use in the country. However, there have been calls for restrictions on the weedkiller following a US court ruling that it caused a man's terminal cancer.
Roundup is widely available in Australian supermarkets and hardware stores, and Australia is one of the countries that uses Monsanto's weedkiller extensively.
Australia takes a much more relaxed approach to household pesticide use than other countries. More than 70 chemicals that are banned or no longer in use in Europe are still in use in Australia, and many are in household products sold at hardware and gardening stores across the country. From termite treatments to well-known pesticides like Confidor, Australia's stance on pesticides is notably more relaxed than Europe's. For example, France has banned pesticide and herbicide use in household gardens entirely, with plans to cut pesticide use in agriculture and home gardens by 50% by 2025. In contrast, Australia appears to be heading in the opposite direction, with a review of pesticide regulation recommending fast-tracking approvals for domestic pesticides and herbicides.
One example of a pesticide that is banned or restricted in other countries but still available in Australia is glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller. While 32 countries have banned glyphosate due to health concerns, it is still approved for use in Australia, and Roundup is widely available for purchase. Another example is metaldehyde, which is banned in the UK due to concerns about its impact on wildlife and drinking water quality. Australians can still purchase snail and slug pellets containing this substance. Carbaryl, also known as Sevin and classified as a likely human carcinogen, is heavily restricted in Europe and must carry a warning, but it is still permitted in Australia.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, the country's chemical regulator, has stated that it follows the advice of this authority regarding Roundup. Clive Duncan, Bunnings's director of marketing and merchandise, has said that they take customer and team member welfare seriously and recommend that users follow the directions and recommendations on the product's labels and packaging.
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More than 70 chemicals banned in Europe are still used in Australia
Monsanto's Roundup, a weedkiller containing glyphosate, is widely available in Australian supermarkets and hardware stores. This is despite a US court ruling that it caused school groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a fatal blood cell cancer. The jury also found that Monsanto knew for decades that the product was potentially dangerous.
Following this landmark case, 32 countries have banned the use of glyphosate, including some Australian states. However, Australia has not implemented a nationwide ban on glyphosate or Roundup. In fact, Australia has been criticized for taking a relaxed approach to household chemical use compared to Europe.
For example, France has banned pesticide and herbicide use in household gardens and public spaces to protect bee populations and prevent runoff into waterways. In contrast, Australia continues to approve the use of pesticides and herbicides that are banned in Europe and other parts of the world due to their toxicity to humans, animals, and the environment.
One such chemical is neonicotinoid, which has been blamed for falling bee numbers in Europe and has been banned there since 2019. It is still used in Australia, although it has been under review by the Australian regulator since 2019.
Another example is azodicarbonamide, a food additive banned in Europe that is sometimes found in bread and packaged baked goods. It is known as the "yoga mat" chemical because it is also used to make yoga mats. Although the risk to human health is considered small, it is not necessary for the food supply, and some companies have stopped using it.
In summary, while Monsanto's Roundup remains available in Australia, there is ongoing debate and legal action regarding its safety. Additionally, Australia's approach to household chemical regulation differs from Europe, with dozens of chemicals banned in Europe and other countries still approved for use in Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Monsanto's Roundup weed killer is not banned in Australia, despite calls from Greenpeace to do so after a US court ruled it caused terminal cancer in an American man.
Glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup, is banned in some Australian states. Numerous municipalities and school districts are currently testing alternative herbicides in an effort to eliminate glyphosate.
Australia takes a more relaxed approach to household chemical use than many other countries. More than 70 chemicals that are banned or no longer in use in Europe are still in use in Australia, including Carbaryl (or Sevin), Metaldehyde, Spinetoram, and Beta Cyfluthrin.
