US Chemical Giant Abandons 'Toxic Cocktail' Herbicide Amid Decade-Long Litigation
Corteva, a leading US chemical giant, has announced it will stop producing Enlist Duo, a highly contentious herbicide containing a toxic mix of Agent Orange and glyphosate. The move comes after years of intense public pressure and litigation, with environmental groups celebrating the decision as a major victory.
The herbicide was widely criticized due to its proven links to cancer, ecological damage, and human health issues. Both Agent Orange and glyphosate have been linked to serious adverse effects, including cancer, birth defects, and respiratory problems. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has faced criticism for approving the product despite these risks.
The EPA initially approved Enlist Duo in 2014 but was later invalidated by a federal court in 2020 due to concerns over its safety and environmental impact. However, the agency reapproved it in 2022, sparking further controversy. Environmental groups argued that the revised approval process did not adequately address the herbicide's risks.
The decision to discontinue Enlist Duo marks a significant shift for Corteva, which had reported sales of over $1 billion in Enlist products last year. The company has not explained why it decided to pull the product from the market, but environmental advocates say it is a welcome relief.
"This toxic cocktail was never meant to be used on food crops," said Kristina Sinclair, a staff attorney with the Center for Food Safety. "We're celebrating this as a win, and our food system will never again be doused in such a toxic substance."
However, the decision does not bring an end to all litigation related to Enlist Duo. A separate lawsuit seeks to invalidate the EPA's approval of another Enlist product containing 2,4-D, which is also considered a carcinogen.
The move highlights concerns over the EPA's pesticide approval process and its prioritization of getting products to market quickly. Environmental groups argue that this approach can lead to flawed assessments of safety and environmental impact, with devastating consequences for human health and the environment.
"The EPA always looks for 'tweaks' rather than fundamentally rethinking their approach," said Nathan Donley, environmental health director with the Center for Biological Diversity. "This decision is a step in the right direction, but it's only the beginning of a broader conversation about the need for meaningful reforms to our pesticide approval process."
Corteva, a leading US chemical giant, has announced it will stop producing Enlist Duo, a highly contentious herbicide containing a toxic mix of Agent Orange and glyphosate. The move comes after years of intense public pressure and litigation, with environmental groups celebrating the decision as a major victory.
The herbicide was widely criticized due to its proven links to cancer, ecological damage, and human health issues. Both Agent Orange and glyphosate have been linked to serious adverse effects, including cancer, birth defects, and respiratory problems. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has faced criticism for approving the product despite these risks.
The EPA initially approved Enlist Duo in 2014 but was later invalidated by a federal court in 2020 due to concerns over its safety and environmental impact. However, the agency reapproved it in 2022, sparking further controversy. Environmental groups argued that the revised approval process did not adequately address the herbicide's risks.
The decision to discontinue Enlist Duo marks a significant shift for Corteva, which had reported sales of over $1 billion in Enlist products last year. The company has not explained why it decided to pull the product from the market, but environmental advocates say it is a welcome relief.
"This toxic cocktail was never meant to be used on food crops," said Kristina Sinclair, a staff attorney with the Center for Food Safety. "We're celebrating this as a win, and our food system will never again be doused in such a toxic substance."
However, the decision does not bring an end to all litigation related to Enlist Duo. A separate lawsuit seeks to invalidate the EPA's approval of another Enlist product containing 2,4-D, which is also considered a carcinogen.
The move highlights concerns over the EPA's pesticide approval process and its prioritization of getting products to market quickly. Environmental groups argue that this approach can lead to flawed assessments of safety and environmental impact, with devastating consequences for human health and the environment.
"The EPA always looks for 'tweaks' rather than fundamentally rethinking their approach," said Nathan Donley, environmental health director with the Center for Biological Diversity. "This decision is a step in the right direction, but it's only the beginning of a broader conversation about the need for meaningful reforms to our pesticide approval process."
that they're stopping production of that toxic herbicide lol i mean what even is 2,4-D? sounds like some scary stuff to me 
also it's crazy how the EPA was reapproving this stuff despite all the health risks 
like shouldn't safety come first? 
i guess this is a good thing for humanity though, we should keep pushing for change so that companies dont feel like they can just make whatever toxic cocktail they want and sell it to us without any consequences 
But seriously, it's not just about Enlist Duo; it's about the whole pesticide approval process being super flawed. The EPA needs to shake things up and prioritize actual safety and environmental impact instead of rushing products to market 
Either way, this is a major win for our health and the environment. Bring on those meaningful reforms, EPA! 
Corteva's decision to discontinue Enlist Duo is about time, but let's not get too carried away... there are still plenty of other toxic chemicals out there. We need real change here, not just a few cosmetic tweaks. 
i'm so glad that corteva decided to stop producing that toxic herbicide enlist duo it's amazing how much pressure from the public and environmental groups can make a difference 
the fact that they're not going to poison our food crops with that poisonous cocktail is just wonderful 
i mean, shouldn't we be prioritizing human health and the environment over profits? let's hope this decision sparks some real change in how our government regulates pesticides
anyway kudos to the center for food safety and other orgs that fought this case it shows that one person can make a difference when they fight for what's right 
the EPA's gotta step up its game & make sure they're being super safe with all these chemicals 
I mean, who wants a toxic cocktail in their food crops? not me 
anyway, let's keep pushing for change & making sure our food system is protected