HHS and EPA Announce New Scientific Partnership to Strengthen Glyphosate Review
PUBLISHED Sep 22, 2026, 11:48 PM ET
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established a joint technical working group on September 22, 2026 [cite: 1.1.1]. The interagency Memorandum of Understanding coordinates scientific research for EPA's active registration review of glyphosate [cite: 1.1.1]. Participating entities include EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the National Toxicology Program, and the National Cancer Institute [cite: 1.1.1]. Collaboration targets four areas: formulation toxicology, occupational epidemiology, human biomonitoring, and dietary microbiome data gaps [cite: 1.1.1]. Working materials roll into Docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0361 [cite: 1.1.1]. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated the framework expands research access, while HHS officials framed the pact as a health-first evaluation support mechanism [cite: 1.1.1]. Statutory final decision authority under FIFRA remains exclusively with EPA [cite: 1.1.5]. Revised human health risk assessments are scheduled for completion in early 2027 [cite: 1.1.1]. Public comments on baseline literature search metrics close September 24, 2026 [cite: 1.2.3].
By Yusra M. | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- On March 1 2009 EPA opens recurring registration review docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0361 for glyphosate.
- On August 25 2026 EPA publishes baseline open literature search documents for public comment (91 Fed. Reg. 5487) [cite: 1.2.3].
- On September 22 2026 HHS and EPA sign joint Memorandum of Understanding establishing interagency technical working group [cite: 1.1.1].
- On September 23 2026 Interagency working group active; coordination documents posting to federal docket [cite: 1.1.1].
- On September 24 2026 Public comment period closes on baseline open literature search materials [cite: 1.2.3].
- On March 31 2027 EPA targeted completion window for revised human health risk assessment and carcinogenic evaluation [cite: 1.1.1].
News Intelligence
- Immediate US impact: Broadened interagency scientific data pooling between EPA and HHS research components; zero immediate product bans, tolerance changes, or emergency restrictions.
- Possible long-term US impact: Potential recalibration of toxicological evidence weighting, human exposure modeling, and dietary safety standards under FIFRA/FFDCA.
- Most affected groups: Agricultural producers, agrochemical manufacturers, public health advocacy groups, regulatory compliance teams.
- Reader priority: High strategic importance for agricultural and regulatory sectors tracking federal pesticide reevaluation trajectories.
- Articles Published:
- 26
- Right Leaning:
- 0
- Left Leaning:
- 4
- Neutral:
- 22
- Distribution:
- Left 15%, Center 85%, Right 0%
Left: Outlets frame involvement of health agencies as a mechanism to surface omitted carcinogenic or epidemiological risk data. Center: Standard administrative reporting emphasizing interagency data coordination and statutory FIFRA authority retention. Right: No distinct rightist ideological framing applied beyond institutional reporting.
Interagency press release announcing joint MOU and technical working group on glyphosate review [cite: 1.1.1]. https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hhs-epa-partnership-strengthen-glyphosate-review.html
Coverage of Story:
From Left
HHS and EPA agreement brings health institutes into pesticide review
New York Times Washington Post Natural Resources Defense Council Environmental Working GroupFrom Center
HHS and EPA partner on scientific review for glyphosate registration
Reuters Associated Press Bloomberg The Hill Politico CNN Wall Street Journal ABC News NBC News USA Today Agri-Pulse Farm Journal DTN Progressive Farmer Axios Ars Technica Bloomberg Law Reuters Legal Bergeson & Campbell Legal500 CropLife America NIEHS Updates National Cancer InstituteFrom Right
No right-leaning sources found for this story.
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