The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) has declared that the herbicide, glyphosate , poses no risk to public health when used in accordance with its label.
Speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) 'Think Tank', Principal Director, Technical Services, at RADA, Marina Young, said there have been reviews of research findings to assess the risk the herbicide posed to public health between 2015 and 2019.
She said the latest review was done earlier this year.
It concluded that if glyphosate is used based on the most current label, it does not cause risk to public health.
A second outcome of the extensive review showed that glyphosate is not a cause of cancer.
According to Mrs. Young, RADA and the Pesticide Control Authority have been diligent in ensuring that heavily used registered pesticides are in the lower toxicity levels and have the least impact on the environment and users' health.
Glyphosate is one of the most commonly used herbicides.
Glyphosate-based pesticides are typically applied before seeds are sown or crops planted.
The herbicide is registered in Jamaica to be used on crops such as banana, coconut, coffee, mango, papaya, sugar cane, pumpkin, corn and pineapple.
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