BILL NUMBER: S225

SPONSOR: HOYLMAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
prohibiting the sale and distribution of glyphosate and products
containing glyphosate

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the sale and distribution of
glyphosate and products containing glyphosate in the state of New York.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill adds a new section 37-0115 to the environmental
conservation law to prohibit the sale, distribution, or use of glypho-
sate or any products containing glyphosate by any person, firm, partner-
ship, association, LLC, or corporation within New York state, and
authorizes the department of environmental conservation to promulgate
              

rules and regulations necessary to carry implement the provisions of the
act.

Section 2 of the bill provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world and is found
in over 750 different products. It is primarily used in agriculture for
crops such as corn and soybeans but is also sprayed in forests, on roads
and in gardens to prevent the growth of weeds. Glyphosate is the main
ingredient in the popular Monsanto weed-killer "Roundup," which is
currently sold in stores throughout New York State. In March 2015, it
was deemed "probably carcinogenic to humans" by the World Health Organ-
ization's International Agency for Research on Cancer.  IARC's analysis
drew on studies conducted in the United States, Canada and Sweden since
2001 and was based on epidemiological, animal and in vitro studies.

Glyphosate has been detected in the blood and urine of agricultural
workers, indicating it can be absorbed through the body, and has also
been shown to damage DNA and chromosomes in human cells, which can lead
to cancer. Furthermore, a number of studies have found glyphosate
induces a positive trend of tumors in mice and rats.  Glyphosate is also
said to be responsible for the precipitous demise of the population of
Danaus plexippus, or the Monarch butterfly.  Earlier this year, the
Natural Resources Defense Council filed suit against the Environmental
Protection Agency in U.S. District Court in New York claiming the agency
has failed to heed warnings about the dangers to monarchs posed by
glyphosate.

The lawsuit states that a key reason for the decline of monarchs is the
application of glyphosate to farm fields, resulting in the destruction
of the milkweed habitat that migrating monarchs rely on.  The monarch
population was tallied at 1 billion in 1997 and this winter was down to
56.5 million butterflies, the second-lowest number ever measured.

Given the mounting evidence to link exposure to glyphosate with cancer,
and the detrimental effect of glyphosate on the monarch butterfly popu-
lation, New York state should cease the sale and use of this harmful
chemical and turn to a safer alternative to manage weed populations.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S.0126 of 2017-2018 (Hoylman): Died in Environmental Conservation
A.8889 of 2017-2018 (O'Donnell): Died in Environmental Conservation
(2018)
S.5471 of 2015-2016 (Hoylman): Died in Environmental Conservation

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law;
provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made
and completed on or before such effective date.