Congress urged to reject 2,4-D herbicide
This article was originally published in September 2014
Fifty members of Congress sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expressing “grave concerns” over new varieties of genetically engineered corn and soy and the Dow Chemical herbicide, Enlist Duo™, a new mix of 2,4-D and glyphosate.
The letter says the risks of approving Enlist Duo™ and the accompanying crops are too great to jeopardize public health, the environment and the sustainability of the food supply. USDA, however, has issued a final environmental impact statement on Dow’s Enlist corn and soybean, stating the technology poses no plant pest risk to agricultural crops or other plants. USDA says it plans to grant full approval for the crops, while EPA continues to review the application for more extensive use of 2,4-D.