# Herbicides: Regulation

Why glyphosate's licence is fought over in Europe

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/herbicides/regulation/

Why glyphosate's licence is fought over in Europe What this tab covers How it is regulated and what could disrupt supply: hazard classification, rules in the EU, US and India, anti-dumping duties and other trade measures, and supply-risk notes.

#### Hazards

| Classification | UN number | Key risks |
|---|---|---|
| varies; glyphosate: serious eye damage cat 1, aquatic chronic 2; paraquat: acute toxicity cat 2 (fatal if inhaled or swallowed) | UN3077/UN3082 for most; UN2781 paraquat solids | Paraquat causes many poisonings and suicides in South Asia. IARC classed glyphosate as probably carcinogenic (group 2A) in 2015, which drives US litigation; regulators in the EU and US did not find it carcinogenic. |

#### Main rules

| Where | Rule | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| **EU** | Regulation (EC) 1107/2009; glyphosate renewed to December 2033 (Nov 2023) | hazard-based cut-offs remove older actives; long registration timelines |
| **US** | FIFRA registration by EPA; Endangered Species Act reviews; state-level dicamba and paraquat actions | label changes and litigation drive product choice |
| **Brazil** | Pesticide law 14,785 (Dec 2023) moved lead authority to the agriculture ministry (indicative) | faster generic registrations in the largest market |
| **China** | Pesticide management regulations; paraquat liquid banned domestically since 2016 (indicative) | export-only products and environmental inspections affect supply |

#### India

| Rule | Effect |
|---|---|
| **Insecticides Act 1968 and Insecticides Rules 1971; registration by the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIBRC)** | data requirements and 'me-too' registration of generics |
| **Glyphosate restricted to use by pest control operators (notification of October 2022, indicative)** | limits retail sale of glyphosate |
| **Pesticide Management Bill 2020 (pending, indicative)** | would replace the 1968 Act |

#### Trade measures

- US tariffs on Chinese agrochemicals since 2018-2019 and further US tariff changes in 2025 shifted sourcing towards India (ICRA via Alchempro, 2025, indicative)
- Brazil and Argentina import technicals duty-light to keep farm costs low (indicative)

#### Supply risk

High concentration: China makes most generic technicals and intermediates such as glycine and yellow phosphorus. A Chinese policy shift can triple prices, as in 2021. Not on critical lists, but India's push for technical self-reliance treats it as strategic.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/herbicides/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/herbicides/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/herbicides/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/herbicides/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/herbicides/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/herbicides/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/herbicides/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/herbicides/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/herbicides/movement/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/herbicides/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/herbicides/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/herbicides/links/index.md)