IRAC Classification

Certain advocacy groups point to a broad International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classification of a group of pesticides known as chlorophenoxies as “known, probable or possible carcinogens” as circumstantial evidence that 2,4-D causes carcinogenic effects in humans and animals. This IARC classification was made based on research conducted in the 1960s and 1970s, and has been repeatedly refuted by regulatory agencies such as the U.S. EPA, Health Canada PRMA, European Commission and World Health Organization, whose independent assessments of 2,4-D have all shown that there is no evidence of human or animal carcinogenic qualities when used according to label directions. The Backgrounder below has more information on the IARC classification and additional facts about chlorophenoxy herbicides: