EPA Opens Glyphosate Review for Public Comment as Texas Agriculture Faces Pivotal Weedkiller Decision

The Environmental Protection Agency opened a 30-day public comment period this week on glyphosate, the controversial herbicide that underpins weed control across millions of Texas agricultural acres. The agency released a comprehensive open literature search document that will inform an updated human health risk assessment expected later this year.

The Science Behind the Review

EPA's systematic review captures peer-reviewed studies published since the agency's last literature assessment in 2017. The document outlines the screening methodology and presents a complete inventory of relevant research on glyphosate's potential health effects. This evidence base will feed into the forthcoming risk assessment examining dietary exposure through food and water residues.

"Because EPA relies on gold-standard science, the agency asks that commenters provide the complete study and its underlying data, or clear information on how to obtain them," the agency stated in its announcement. Each submission must include full citation details—authors, publication date, journal title, and article title—to enable quality evaluation.

Why This Matters for Texas

Glyphosate remains the backbone of weed management programs across Texas cotton, corn, and soybean operations. The herbicide's registration status directly affects production costs, resistance management strategies, and alternative herbicide selection for the state's $25 billion row crop industry.

The current comment period focuses specifically on identifying additional peer-reviewed studies for agency consideration. Following the September 24 deadline, EPA will incorporate relevant research into the human health risk assessment scheduled for completion in late 2026. That document will then undergo its own public comment period before any regulatory decisions emerge.

How to Participate

Stakeholders can submit comments and studies through docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0361 at regulations.gov. The agency emphasizes that this phase centers on science identification rather than policy debate—advocacy organizations and agricultural groups are encouraged to flag specific studies that merit inclusion in the technical review.

The glyphosate registration review represents one of EPA's most scrutinized pesticide evaluations, reflecting both the chemical's ubiquity and ongoing scientific debate about its safety profile. For Texas producers and pest control professionals, the outcome will shape weed management options for years to come.

Comments must be submitted by September 24, 2026.