New law cements EPA science as the standard, giving farmers the clarity and tools they need to keep America’s food supply strong.
Farmers and members of the agricultural community praised North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong and the North Dakota Legislative Assembly for championing tools and technologies essential to protecting U.S. agriculture. The enactment of HB 1318 makes North Dakota the first state to reinforce the authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) science-based rulings that crop protection products are safe when used as directed.
“This new law is crucial for providing the tools North Dakota’s farmers rely on to produce America’s food supply,” said Brian Naber, president, Crop Science North America and Australia/New Zealand region, said in a Bayer news release. “Without crop protection tools, America’s consumers could face higher costs to provide for their families and put food on the table. By signing HB 1318, Governor Armstrong is supporting North Dakota’s farmers, America’s consumers and the decades of innovation that underpin the state’s proud agricultural history and vibrant economy.”
The enactment of HB 1318 reflects the combined efforts of North Dakota’s lawmakers, commodity groups and farmers to support an agricultural sector that, along with related industries, contributes more than $14 billion to the state’s economy. The law reinforces the integrity of the regulatory process by ensuring that the EPA’s scientifically grounded conclusions are upheld. It also provides regulatory clarity that allows crop protection products and the broader agricultural community to thrive.
Crop protection tools have transformed modern farming by enabling effective and safe weed management. Glyphosate, for example, has undergone rigorous testing and oversight, with the EPA and leading regulatory authorities worldwide consistently affirming its safety when used as directed. When the EPA reaches science-based conclusions around a product label, HB 1318 ensures that decision stands.
Bayer expressed hope that courts will begin applying this legislation to provide greater legal certainty regarding claims about health and safety warning labels on crop protection products.
Bayer hopes the courts will apply this legislation to bring greater legal certainty around health and safety warning labels on crop protection products.
To learn more about glyphosate, visit https://www.bayer.com/en/truth-about-glyphosate.
