Head of the Plant Protection Department under Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung affirmed at a yesterday press brief that Vietnam will ban the use of glyphosate, an active ingredient in many weed killers, because the responsible agencies have had enough scientific evidence proving the herbicide has impacts on human health.

Despite controversial opinions between corporations, distributors and importers of the ingredient that the ban will push the cost of killing weed in agriculture and productivity will decrease, Mr. Trung said that his department has collected all scientific evidence of the toxic ingredient for the decision.

The US federal court has pointed out the ingredient has caused a US gardener cancer and ordered Monsanto pay $289M to the gardener. Moreover, over 40 countries have banned or limited the use of the ingredient.

The head affirmed Vietnam will ban the ingredient as soon as possible. At first, the Department has sent document to importers and businesses asking to report the volume of the ingredient as well as asking to stop import of glyphosate – contained weed killers.

SGGP