Brazil’s Labor Prosecutor’s Office accuses Anvisa of “double standard” and seeks glyphosate ban
Complete Public Civil Action – Glyphosate (portuguese)
In Brazil, the Labor Prosecutor’s Office filed, on May 22nd, 2026, a public civil action against the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency and the federal government seeking a ban on glyphosate. Case No. 0000883-90.2026.5.10.0014 is pending before the Labor Court of the Federal District. The lawsuit includes a request for urgent provisional relief and seeks to cancel registrations of products containing glyphosate and its derivatives, as well as to prohibit authorization for their production, export, import, commercialization and use. For now, this is a newly filed lawsuit, with no final court decision yet.
In the petition, the Labor Prosecutor’s Office claims that glyphosate poses a serious risk to life, occupational health, safety and the working environment of an indeterminate number of workers. The office says the most affected groups include rural workers, Indigenous workers, their families and populations exposed in agricultural areas, also citing possible contamination of water sources and of the working and natural environment.
The Labor Prosecutor’s Office argues that international studies indicate harmful effects associated with glyphosate exposure, including cancer, endocrine disruption, effects on reproduction, pregnancy and postnatal development, as well as neurodegenerative diseases. The lawsuit also mentions studies on non-Hodgkin lymphoma, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, genetic damage, miscarriage, premature birth, congenital defects and female infertility.
The lawsuit also accuses the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency of adopting a regulatory “double standard”: speed in the approval of certain pesticides and delays in the reassessment of registrations already granted. According to the petition, audits by the Federal Court of Accounts identified weaknesses in the agency’s conduct, including in the management of the registration queue and delays in the reassessment of pesticide substances. The Labor Prosecutor’s Office cites Law No. 14,785/2023, constitutional rules, international conventions and the principles of prevention and precaution as legal grounds for the request.
The Labor Prosecutor’s Office also requested the imposition of a daily fine in the event of noncompliance with the obligations determined by the court. The suggested amount is R$ 1 million (US$ 200 thousand) per day if Anvisa and the federal government fail to comply with a possible court ruling. The lawsuit argues that the preliminary injunction should be enforced immediately, but allows for a transition period of up to 180 calendar days if the court deems it necessary.
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