In a statement released July 31, 2019, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) has recommended that all glyphosate use be phased out due to “the recognised impact on the health and well-being of women and newborn children worldwide.”

FIGO is a professional group that advocates for OB/GYN groups around the world.   They work with the World Health Organization and United Nations to consult on women and children’s health and wellness issues.

In their statement, FIGO points out the conflicting opinions about the safety of glyphosate, as evidenced by the EPA and IARC’s diametric designations as “non-carcinogenic” and “probably carcinogenic,” respectively. (For much more on this, see our analysis).

But, they argue, given that the most recent meta-analysis from February 2019 found “a compelling link between non-Hodgkins lymphoma and glyphosate,” and rodent studies have demonstrated the potential for transgenerational epigenetic changes (see Kubsad et al., 2019 and Teleken et al., 2019 for a couple examples),  FIGO urges governments to apply the precautionary principal and prioritize “establishing safety, now and across generations, prior to exposure to chemical products.”

They conclude:

“We recommend that glyphosate exposure to populations should end with a full global phase out.”

Measures to limit exposure to the herbicides should be taken “even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.”  After all, they write, “global health should be our guiding light.”

Source:

International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics; “Removal of glyphosate from global usage: A Statement by the FIGO Reproductive and Developmental Environmental Health Committee;” Date posted: 07/31/2019, Date accessed: 8/6/2019.